Every human being has creatinine in the blood, which is a body waste that comes from protein and muscle breakdown. It is removed through the kidneys. High amounts of creatinine may indicate issues in your kidneys. Let us know what level of creatinine affects your kidneys and leads to their failure.
Low amounts of creatinine can be caused by poor muscle mass, whereas high levels in the blood may be a sign of renal dysfunction or kidney failure. The average creatinine levels in people can differ according to an individual's muscular mass, age, and sex. However, the average ranges for males are 0.7 to 1.2 milligrams per decilitre (mg/dL). The normal range of creatinine levels for females is also between 0.5 and 1.0. You can see the average normal range of creatinine in the table below:
Levels | Adult males (mg/dL) | Adult females (mg/dL) |
Low | 0.5 to 0.8 | 0.4 to 0.7 |
Average | 0.7 to 1.2 | 0.5 to 1.0 |
High | Above 1.4 | Above 1.2 |
If the normal level of creatinine exceeds 1.4 in males and 1.2 in females in the test, it may indicate impaired kidney function. Similarly, if it goes below 0.8 and 0.7 in males and females, respectively, it is considered a low level, and the person is dealing with low muscle mass, liver disease and pregnancy.
High creatinine levels signify that the kidneys are not functioning properly. Below are some of the main causes of high creatinine levels:
Depending on the cause of high creatinine, doctors can recommend taking certain medications and implementing changes to everyday habits. Below are some of the preventive measures that you must implement to stay away from renal dysfunction:
The serum creatinine test is conducted to check the filtration of the kidneys. If they are not functioning well, it may indicate higher levels of creatinine in the blood. Factors like high blood pressure, high blood sugar levels, high consumption of protein, and other chronic diseases can lead to high creatinine levels. Anyone who finds any symptoms related to this can seek medical advice.