Creatinine is a compound produced from muscle metabolism and serves as an important indicator of kidney function. It is generated from creatine, a molecule essential for energy production in muscles, and is filtered from the blood by the kidneys before being excreted in urine.
Testing creatinine levels is beneficial for several groups of people:
Elevated creatinine levels often indicate impaired kidney function. However, high creatinine itself usually doesn’t cause symptoms. Instead, symptoms arise from the underlying condition affecting the kidneys. These symptoms can include:
Improving carnitine levels generally involves dietary changes and, in some cases, supplementation:
Several factors can affect creatinine levels in the body, influencing either the production of creatinine or its filtration and excretion by the kidneys. These factors include: