Nutrition Diet and Your Kidneys: How do you feel if your creatine is high?

October 16, 2025 •

4 min read

Creatinine, a waste product of muscle metabolism, is filtered from your blood by the kidneys. Therefore, high creatine levels, specifically measured as creatinine in a blood test, don't cause specific symptoms themselves but are indicators of a potential underlying health issue, often linked to how your kidneys are functioning. These issues are what cause the noticeable physical sensations and health changes associated with the test result.

Quick Summary

An elevated blood creatinine level can be a sign of poor kidney function and presents with a variety of symptoms. These often include fatigue, fluid retention, nausea, and changes in urination frequency. High levels can also be caused by intense exercise, dehydration, or a high-protein diet, including creatine supplements, rather than an underlying disease. Differentiating the cause requires medical evaluation.

Key Points

Creatinine vs. Creatine: A high blood level of creatinine (a waste product) is what indicates a potential health issue, not the creatine supplement itself.
Symptom Spectrum: Elevated creatinine symptoms often include fatigue, swelling (edema) in the limbs, nausea, and changes in urination, reflecting underlying kidney problems.
Temporary Causes: High creatinine can be a normal, temporary result of intense exercise, a high-protein diet, or taking creatine supplements, not just kidney disease.
Lifestyle Management: For high creatinine, a balanced diet, adequate hydration, and managing protein intake are important, especially under a doctor's supervision.
Seek Medical Advice: Persistent symptoms require medical evaluation to determine if kidney dysfunction is the cause and to rule out other serious health conditions.
Dietary Role: A high-fiber, plant-based diet can help manage creatinine levels, while excessive animal protein intake can increase them.
Consult a Doctor: If your creatinine test is high, don't panic, but consult a healthcare provider to understand the result in the context of your lifestyle and health history.

Understanding the Distinction: Creatine vs. Creatinine

First, it is crucial to clarify the difference between creatine and creatinine. Creatine is a compound found naturally in muscle cells that helps produce energy during high-intensity exercise. It's also a popular dietary supplement for athletes. In contrast, creatinine is a waste product created from the normal breakdown of creatine in the muscles. Your kidneys are responsible for filtering creatinine out of your blood and excreting it through urine. A blood test measures the level of creatinine, and an elevated level can signal a problem with kidney function. High levels can also be a temporary consequence of intense exercise, a high-protein diet, or creatine supplementation.

Common Symptoms Associated with High Creatinine Levels

When your kidneys aren't effectively filtering creatinine, it can build up in your blood and lead to noticeable symptoms. While these symptoms are not directly caused by the creatinine itself, they are a reflection of the underlying kidney dysfunction.

Fatigue and Weakness: A feeling of persistent tiredness or low energy is a very common symptom. As kidney function declines, toxins build up, which can contribute to general malaise and exhaustion.
Swelling (Edema): The kidneys' inability to balance fluids and sodium can lead to fluid retention. This often appears as swelling in the legs, ankles, feet, or face.
Nausea and Loss of Appetite: A buildup of waste products can cause an upset stomach, leading to nausea, vomiting, or a decreased desire to eat.
Changes in Urination: You might notice a change in the frequency of urination, either more or less often. The urine might also appear foamy or contain blood.
Chest Pain and Shortness of Breath: If fluid retention extends to the lungs or the kidneys' filtering issues lead to electrolyte imbalances, more severe symptoms like chest pain or difficulty breathing can occur.
Skin Issues: Some individuals experience dry, itchy skin as a result of mineral imbalances.
Mental Confusion: Severe cases of kidney dysfunction can lead to toxins affecting the brain, causing confusion or other mental status changes.

Causes of Elevated Creatinine Levels

There are several reasons why your creatinine levels might be high. It's not always a sign of chronic kidney disease. Here are some key factors:

Intense Exercise: Strenuous physical activity, particularly weightlifting, can increase the breakdown of muscle tissue, leading to a temporary spike in creatinine levels.
High Protein Intake: A diet rich in protein, especially red meat, can increase creatinine levels for a short period.
Creatine Supplementation: Taking creatine supplements will naturally increase your body's creatine stores, which results in a higher amount of the waste product creatinine being produced. This is a normal and expected response and is generally not considered harmful in healthy individuals.
Dehydration: Not drinking enough water can concentrate creatinine in your blood and lead to elevated readings.
Kidney Disease: The most serious cause is underlying kidney damage, which compromises the kidneys' ability to filter waste. This can include infections, diabetes-related complications, or other conditions.

Dietary and Lifestyle Modifications

For those with consistently high creatinine levels, a doctor may recommend specific dietary changes, particularly if kidney function is compromised.

Foods to Consider Limiting

Excessive red meat and other animal proteins.
High-sodium foods, which can increase fluid retention and blood pressure.
Potassium-rich foods (bananas, potatoes) and phosphorus-rich foods (dairy, nuts) may need to be limited depending on the severity of kidney issues.

Foods to Prioritize

A plant-based, high-fiber diet including plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
Lean protein sources instead of excessive red meat.
Adequate hydration is critical to help the kidneys function properly.

Table: Temporary vs. Chronic High Creatinine


Aspect	Temporary High Creatinine	Chronic High Creatinine (Kidney Disease)
Primary Cause	Intense exercise, creatine supplements, high protein diet, dehydration	Underlying kidney damage or disease
Onset of Symptoms	Often few or no symptoms. Water retention or minor digestive issues may occur during loading phase of supplements	Gradual onset and progression of symptoms over time
Associated Feelings	Typically none, or general muscle fatigue from exercise.	Persistent fatigue, weakness, swelling, nausea, and cognitive changes
Reversibility	Resolves once the contributing factor (exercise, diet, dehydration) is addressed.	Requires medical management to address the root cause and support kidney function.

Conclusion: Interpreting the Signs

Feelings and symptoms associated with high creatinine are not caused by the waste product itself, but by the health issue that led to its elevation. If your creatinine levels are high, it's a signal to investigate the cause. For healthy individuals, a temporary spike from exercise or supplementation is not a concern, but it's important to differentiate this from more serious issues. If you experience persistent symptoms like fatigue, swelling, or changes in urination, consulting a healthcare professional is essential. They can interpret your test results in the context of your overall health and lifestyle to determine the appropriate course of action. A healthy diet and proper hydration are key pillars for supporting kidney function and managing creatinine levels effectively, as recommended by leading health organizations like the National Kidney Foundation.

Resources

National Kidney Foundation: https://www.kidney.org/
Mayo Clinic: https://www.mayoclinic.org/

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, taking creatine supplements will typically increase your blood creatinine levels. This is a normal and expected side effect because the supplement increases the total amount of creatine in your muscles, which then breaks down into more of the waste product creatinine. In healthy individuals, this is not a concern for kidney health.

Creatine is a compound that helps supply energy to your muscles, while creatinine is the waste product that is created when creatine breaks down. Creatinine is then filtered out of the blood by the kidneys, and its level is what is typically measured in a blood test to assess kidney function.

If you are otherwise healthy, a high creatinine reading due to creatine supplements is not a cause for concern. However, it's always best to inform your doctor about your supplement use, as it can affect their interpretation of your kidney function tests.

In the early stages, you may experience no symptoms at all. As kidney issues progress, common warning signs can include fatigue, swelling in the feet or ankles, decreased appetite, and changes in urination.

Yes, dehydration is a common cause of temporarily high creatinine levels. When you are dehydrated, the concentration of creatinine in your blood increases. Staying well-hydrated helps your kidneys function effectively and excrete waste.

For those with high creatinine, particularly due to kidney issues, focusing on a high-fiber, plant-based diet and limiting excessive animal protein (especially red meat) is often recommended. Reducing sodium and being mindful of fluid intake may also be necessary depending on your doctor's advice.

No, a high creatinine level is not always an indication of kidney disease. Factors like intense exercise, high-protein intake, and creatine supplementation can all cause temporary spikes. A doctor will consider your overall health, other test results, and symptoms to make a proper diagnosis.