The Daily Pill is a series of very short daily posts where I share the definition of a medical term I think we should all know. Read it every morning and build up your medical vocabulary.
🔬 Creatinine
Creatinine is a waste product generated by muscle metabolism, specifically from the breakdown of creatine, a molecule vital for energy production in muscles.
Creatinine is filtered out of the blood by the kidneys and excreted in urine, and this process maintains creatine blood levels constant. Hence, the concentration of creatinine in the blood is a key indicator of kidney function.
Elevated creatinine levels may indicate impaired kidney function or kidney disease, while low levels are less common and may be seen in conditions causing reduced muscle mass. Measuring creatinine levels through blood tests helps assess how well the kidneys are filtering waste from the blood.
🤔Why you need to know:
Healthy kidneys efficiently filter waste and excess substances, preventing toxin buildup in the body. Monitoring creatinine levels is crucial for maintaining kidney health, which is vital for overall longevity.
Early detection of elevated creatinine levels can lead to prompt intervention, potentially preventing chronic kidney disease and its complications. Keep in mind that creatinine levels can indirectly reflect muscle mass, providing insights into overall health and fitness, and if you are taking creatine, your creatinine levels may be artificially elevated. Always let your PCP know what supplements you take so they can better interpret your lab results.
🧠Trivia:
The discovery of creatinine in 1832 happened quite serendipitously while Michel Eugène Chevreul, a French scientist, was studying the chemistry of animal tissues. Chevreul noticed a crystalline substance in meat extract and, through meticulous experimentation, isolated and identified it as creatinine. This discovery opened new avenues in understanding muscle metabolism and kidney function, establishing creatinine as a vital marker in medical diagnostics.