The short answer: Often it is the supplement, not your kidneys. Creatine breaks down into creatinine, the marker labs use to judge kidney function, so the number can rise while your kidneys are fine. Tell your doctor, and ask about other tests.
Why is this question coming up so much now?
More women are taking creatine, and more are getting routine blood tests. Sooner or later, the two collide.
On 13 October 2026, Women's Health UK spelled out the problem [4]. Creatine can raise your creatinine and make your kidney function look lower than it is, even when your kidneys are healthy [4].
In India, this usually shows up on a KFT, a kidney function test. The report flags creatinine in red. Your doctor frowns. Your mother says "I told you that powder was bad". Let us look at what is actually going on.
What is creatinine, and how is it different from creatine?
The names are almost the same, and that is half the confusion. Creatine is the compound in your muscles that helps make quick energy. Creatinine is its waste product.
Every day, some of the creatine in your muscles breaks down into creatinine on its own [1]. Creatinine moves into your blood. Healthy kidneys filter it out into your urine [1].
Because the kidneys clear it, labs use blood creatinine to estimate how well your kidneys filter [1]. That estimate is called eGFR, short for estimated glomerular filtration rate. It means roughly how much blood your kidneys clean each minute.
Think of it like judging how well a water filter works by checking the dirt left in the tank. That works, unless someone keeps adding extra dirt.
Does creatine raise creatinine on a blood test?
It can. Blood and urine creatinine can both go up with creatine supplements, and even with creatine-rich foods like meat [1].
Creatinine also depends on how much muscle you have [1]. Men usually have higher levels than women for this reason [1].
A 2025 meta-analysis in BMC Nephrology pooled the evidence [2]. A meta-analysis combines many studies to get a clearer answer. The authors reviewed 21 studies and pooled 12 of them, with 440 people in total [2].
They found a small but real rise in blood creatinine with creatine [2]. But there was no significant change in GFR, the actual filtering rate [2]. Their conclusion was that the rise likely comes from creatine turnover, not from kidney damage [2].
An older review counted it differently. Of 22 creatine studies, 12 found no rise in creatinine and 8 found a rise that stayed within the normal range [1]. Only 2 found a rise above normal limits [1].
Does creatine damage your kidneys?
In healthy people at the usual doses, the research says no. A 2021 review in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition looked at this closely [1]. It concluded that recommended doses do not cause kidney damage in healthy people [1].
So where did the fear come from? Largely from a 1998 case report of one young man who already had kidney disease [1]. His creatinine rose, and doctors assumed his kidneys were getting worse [1].
The review points out that creatine was already known to raise creatinine back then [1]. Other case reports of kidney problems came with big complications [1]. These included existing kidney disease, other medicines, other supplements, steroid use, or doses up to 100 times the normal amount [1].
A 2025 review in Frontiers in Nutrition reached the same view [3]. It found no good evidence linking creatine to kidney problems in humans [3].
Which tests can tell creatine apart from kidney trouble?
This is the useful part. The 2025 Frontiers review says creatine users should have their kidneys checked with markers that do not depend on creatinine [3]. These include [3]:
- Cystatin C: a blood marker of kidney filtering that does not come from creatine.
- Urine albumin or protein: often reported as the urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio, which shows if protein is leaking into urine.
- A measured GFR: a more direct test of filtering, done in specialised centres.
Women's Health UK gives the same practical advice [4]. Tell your doctor you take creatine before any blood test [4]. If there is doubt, ask about cystatin C [4].
Your doctor may still want to look closer, and that is fair. A raised creatinine can have other causes, and they should not be missed.
Who should be careful with creatine?
The research on kidney safety is mostly in healthy people. The 2025 Frontiers review says people with existing kidney conditions, and pregnant women, should be cautious because evidence is lacking [3].
Dr Jamie Pugh, quoted by Women's Health UK, adds a few more groups [4]. Talk to your doctor first if you have kidney or liver disease or diabetes [4]. The same goes if you take medicines that affect your kidneys, or are pregnant or breastfeeding [4].
Dose matters too. The studied dose for most adults is 3 to 5 g of creatine a day [1]. Creatine monohydrate is the most studied form, used in research since the early 1990s [1].
What this means if you...
...just got a KFT with high creatinine and you take creatine
Do not panic, and do not hide it. Tell your doctor your daily dose and how long you have taken it. Ask whether cystatin C or a urine albumin test makes sense [3].
...have a doctor or family member telling you to stop
They are being careful, which is reasonable. Share this with your doctor and decide together. If your doctor wants you to stop and retest, that is a sensible way to get a clean answer.
...have kidney disease, diabetes or take regular medicines
Do not start creatine without your doctor's go-ahead. The safety research is mostly in healthy people [3].
Where AIM stands
We are launching FORGE soon. It is one peach-mango sachet a day with 5 g of micronised creatine monohydrate. It also has iron bisglycinate (9 mg elemental iron), 80 mg vitamin C and BioPerine. We chose monohydrate because it is the most studied form [1]. If you take FORGE or any creatine, it can raise the creatinine on your blood report. Please tell your doctor before kidney tests. We do not suggest creatine for anyone with kidney disease unless their doctor agrees. You can see where FORGE may fit on our find your routine page. For the wider evidence, read our guide to creatine for women.
Frequently asked questions
Does creatine increase creatinine levels?
It can. Creatine in your muscles naturally breaks down into creatinine, so taking creatine can raise the creatinine on your blood test. A 2025 meta-analysis found a small rise in creatinine with creatine, but no significant change in the kidneys' actual filtering rate. The authors linked the rise to creatine turnover, not kidney damage.
Is creatine bad for your kidneys?
In healthy people at recommended doses of 3 to 5 g a day, reviews in 2021 and 2025 found no evidence of kidney damage. Case reports of kidney problems involved existing kidney disease, other medicines or very large doses. If you already have kidney disease, diabetes or take regular medicines, talk to your doctor first.
Should I stop creatine before a kidney function test?
Ask your doctor. The most important step is to tell them you take creatine, how much and for how long, so they can read your creatinine correctly. Some doctors may ask you to pause and retest. Others may use tests that do not depend on creatinine, such as cystatin C or urine albumin.
What is cystatin C and why does it matter for creatine users?
Cystatin C is a blood marker that doctors can use to judge how well your kidneys filter. Unlike creatinine, it does not come from creatine. A 2025 review suggests checking creatine users with markers like cystatin C, urine albumin or a measured GFR. This avoids a false alarm from raised creatinine.
Can women take creatine safely?
For healthy adult women, creatine monohydrate at 3 to 5 g a day is well studied and generally well tolerated. Check with a doctor first if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have kidney disease, liver disease or diabetes. The same goes if you take medicines that affect the kidneys. Tell your doctor before blood tests.
Sources
- Antonio J, Candow DG, Forbes SC, et al. Common questions and misconceptions about creatine supplementation: what does the scientific evidence really show? Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 2021, 18:13. doi:10.1186/s12970-021-00412-w
- Naeini EK, Eskandari M, Mortazavi M, Gholaminejad A, Karevan N. Effect of creatine supplementation on kidney function: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Nephrology, 2025, 26:622. doi:10.1186/s12882-025-04558-6
- Longobardi I, Solis MY, Roschel H, Gualano B. A short review of the most common safety concerns regarding creatine ingestion. Frontiers in Nutrition, 2025, 12:1682746. doi:10.3389/fnut.2025.1682746
- Barraclough A. Creatine vs protein powder: one builds strength, one supports recovery. Here's how to choose. Women's Health UK, 13 October 2026. womenshealthmag.com
This article is for education only and is not medical advice. Supplements are not a substitute for a varied diet or for treatment from a qualified doctor. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, on medication, or have a medical condition, talk to your doctor before starting any supplement. Individual results vary.
Photo: Ketut Subiyanto via Pexels.