What is Creatinine?
Creatinine is a waste product formed when your muscles break down creatine for energy.
Because creatinine is almost entirely cleared by the kidneys, it is used to calculate Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR), or the speed at which your kidneys clean your blood.
Why Does Creatinine Matter?
Measuring creatinine levels is useful for:
- Monitoring kidney filtration by showing how efficiently your kidneys are clearing waste
- Establishing baseline kidney performance, since creatinine production is relatively stable day to day
- Providing indirect insight into muscle mass and turnover
- Identifying excessive muscle breakdown or overtraining
- Assessing hydration status indirectly, since dehydration can concentrate creatinine in the blood
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How to Interpret Creatinine
(Ranges may vary slightly by lab)
Standard reference ranges represent the middle 95% of healthy individuals but don’t necessarily reflect levels associated with longevity. Optimal ranges are derived from clinical guidelines, peer-reviewed research, and real-world outcomes data, with an emphasis on levels associated with peak functioning and reduced disease risk.
Benefits of Optimizing Creatinine
- Optimal kidney function, fluid balance, blood pressure, and electrolyte stability
- Better hydration status, which can impact cellular aging1
- Improved training recovery and resilience
- Reduced long-term cardiovascular strain2
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Low Creatinine Levels
Low creatinine is often not cause for concern, especially in pregnant women or people on low protein diets. However, persistently low levels may reflect reduced muscle mass or inadequate protein intake.
Symptoms:
- Muscle stiffness, weakness, or pain
- Difficulty exercising
- Decreased mobility
Causes:
- Lower muscle mass
- Pregnancy
- Vegetarian or low-protein diets
- Rapid weight loss
- Malnutrition
- Liver disease
- Excess fluids
Healthspan Impacts:
High Creatinine Levels
High creatinine levels can reflect changes in kidney filtration, which may impact your healthspan and overall longevity.
Symptoms:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Fatigue
- Chest pain
- Muscle cramps
- Changes in urination
- High blood pressure
Causes:
- Dehydration
- Kidney damage, infection, or failure
- Congestive heart failure
- Temporary elevations can occur after intense exercise or high meat intake
Healthspan Impacts:
- Could lead to kidney function decline and chronic kidney disease6
- Reduced kidney function also contributes to accelerated aging and chronic inflammation7
How Hone Treats Out of Range Creatinine
Creatinine is just one marker of kidney function, and doesn’t always necessarily indicate a problem (particularly with low levels). Your Hone physician will evaluate this marker alongside related biomarkers including eGFR and BUN as well as hydration status and body composition to create a treatment plan.
- IV therapy* – to clear acute spikes caused by dehydration
- Blood sugar regulation – to prevent glucose-related damage to the renal system
- Medication review* – identifying and removing drugs that are hard on the kidneys
*Your Hone Physician does not prescribe these treatments but will recommend further evaluation and help coordinate care with your primary care provider when medical treatment is indicated.
- Creatine (for low levels only)
- CoQ108
- N-Acetylcysteine8
- Consume a well-balanced, higher protein diet (for low creatinine levels)
- Moderate protein intake to reduce kidney workload (for high levels)
- Participate in high-intensity exercise and resistance training several times per week
- Get 7-8 hours of sleep per night. Short sleep duration increases creatinine levels9
- Watch NSAID (over-the-counter painkillers like ibuprofen) intake, which can stress the kidneys10
- Match hydration to activity levels and climate
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. (2023). Good hydration linked to healthy aging. National Institutes of Health.
↑Michos, E. D., Cherney, D., & Kushner, P. (2026). Chronic kidney disease screening to reduce cardiovascular risk: A call to action. American Journal of Preventive Cardiology.
↑Polinder-Bos, H.A., et al. (2017). Low Urinary Creatinine Excretion Is Associated With Self-Reported Frailty in Patients With Advanced Chronic Kidney Disease. Kidney International Reports.
↑Ostermann, M., Kashani, K., & Forni, L. G. (2016). The two sides of creatinine: Both as bad as each other? Journal of Thoracic Disease.
↑Liu, F., Zhong, X., & Wang, C. (2025). Lower creatinine levels are associated with an increased risk of depression: Evidence from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study. Frontiers in Psychiatry.
↑He, W., et al. (2026). Serum creatinine, genetic susceptibility, and the risk of osteoporosis and fracture: A prospective cohort study from the UK Biobank. Frontiers in Endocrinology.
↑Jacquier, E.F., et al. (2024). Phytonutrients in the promotion of healthspan: A new perspective. Frontiers in Nutrition.
↑Rehman, T., Fought, J., & Solomon, R. (2008). N-Acetylcysteine Effect on Serum Creatinine and Cystatin C Levels in CKD Patients. Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
↑Zhang, Y. et al. (2024). Insomnia and sleep duration for kidney function: Mendelian randomization study. Renal Failure.
↑Drożdżal, S., et al. (2021). Kidney damage from nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs—Myth or truth? Review of selected literature. Pharmacology Research & Perspectives.
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Reviewed for Accuracy by Our Medical Review Board
This biomarker information has been reviewed by a member of Hone’s medical review board. As part of the medical review team, physicians fact-check this content against the latest research and their own experience treating their patients.
Ashley Winter, M.D., is a board-certified urogynecologist trained at Weill Cornell and Cleveland Clinic. She specializes in female and male sexual dysfunction, urinary issues, genital pain, and hormone therapy.
James Staheli, D.O., is the Medical Director for Broad Health, Hone Health’s affiliated medical practice and a family medicine doctor in Atlanta, Georgia.
