What does it mean if my creatinine test results are low?

Test creatinine is a test that measures the amount of creatinine in the blood. Creatinine is a waste product of creatine phosphate, an amino acid used in the process of muscle contraction. The amount of creatinine in the body per day tends to be stable if the filtering function of the kidneys is good. So, what does it mean if the creatinine test results are low? What really happened to your body? Come on, find out the answer in the following review.

The function of creatinine for your body

As described above, creatinine is a waste produced when muscles contract. But even though it is called waste, creatinine functions to increase body mass, increase muscle performance for short-term intense physical activity, and help restore muscle after exercise. Research shows that creatinine can also stop the growth of bacteria and thus support the immune system.

Creatine, the amino acid the initial form of creatinine, is produced in the liver and then transported through the blood to the muscles to help it contract. The creatine that has been used will break down and enter the bloodstream to the kidneys.

The kidneys will filter creatinine from the blood and channel it to the bladder to be excreted with urine. The mechanism for eliminating residual creatinine in the urine is the body's way of maintaining normal creatinine levels.

How do you find out the creatinine level in the body?

Everyone has a normal creatinine level that varies depending on body weight, muscle mass, age, and gender. Generally, the normal level of creatinine in men is around 0.6 to 1.2 mg / dl. Meanwhile, the normal level of creatinine in women is around 0.5 to 1.1 mg / dl.

To find out the level of creatinine in the body, the doctor will recommend a creatinine test through a blood test (serum creatinine test) to measure creatinine levels in the blood and a urine test to measure the amount of creatinine in the urine.

The creatinine test is commonly used to diagnose decreased kidney function. The amount of creatinine that the body produces per day should tend to be stable if the filtering function of the kidneys is running well. However, general creatinine levels change slightly within one day; lowest at 7am and highest at 7pm.

Then, what does it mean if the creatinine test results are low?

A low creatinine test result can indicate a number of conditions. Some include normal and natural body changes, while others may require further medical attention.

Some of the possible conditions that can cause low creatinine levels in the body are:

1. Shrinkage of muscle mass (muscular dystrophy)

Muscle mass loss is generally a natural body change with age. However, this problem can also be caused by a disorder called muscular dystrophy.

Muscle dystrophy is a genetic mutation that results in progressive loss of muscle mass, making muscles weaker over time. A person with muscular dystrophy may have no muscle at all in the late stages of the disease.

In addition to low creatine levels, people with muscular dystrophy will also experience symptoms such as weakness, pain, and stiffness in their muscles that make it difficult to move freely.

2. Liver disease

Creatinine is produced in the liver. When your liver function is impaired, for example due to chronic liver disease, creatinine production can decrease by up to 50 percent.

The main symptoms caused by liver damage are abdominal pain and swelling, jaundice (the whites of the eyes, nails, and yellowing skin), and pale and bloody stools.

3. Pregnant

Apart from disease, if you are a woman of childbearing age a low creatinine test result can indicate that if you are pregnant. Creatinine levels will naturally decrease, and will return to normal after delivery.

4. Are on a diet

Low creatinine levels in the body can also mean that you are vegetarian, or are on a high-fiber diet rich in fruits and vegetables.

Vegetarians tend to have lower creatinine levels than people who eat meat. This is because creatinine tends to be high after consuming large portions of animal protein sources.

If your creatinine test results are low, your doctor will recommend that you perform further tests, such as a muscle biopsy or muscle enzyme test to check for possible muscle damage as well as liver function tests.