Creatine Supplementation tied to Temporary Creatinine Rise Without Affecting Kidney Function: Study
A recent study published in the journal of BMC Nephrology revealed that creatine use may lead to a modest, short-term increase in serum creatinine, likely reflecting normal metabolic turnover rather than kidney damage. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) remains unchanged, indicating preserved renal function during supplementation.
Creatine monohydrate is one of the most studied ergogenic aids, which is known for enhancing strength, muscle mass, and exercise performance. However, the impact of this supplement on renal health has long been questioned due to observed increases in serum creatinine. This research was set to clarify whether these elevations reflected actual renal damage or merely a byproduct of creatine metabolism.
This systematic review and meta-analysis involved studies published between January 2000 and March 2025 across databases like PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Serum creatinine levels and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) were the key outcomes assessed in this study.
In total, 21 studies were included in the systematic review, and 12 studies (this comprised 177 participants in the creatine group and 263 in the control group) were eligible for quantitative analysis. Data were analyzed using a random-effects model, and results were further broken down by how long participants had been taking creatine.
The pooled results revealed a small but statistically significant increase in serum creatinine among those taking creatine supplements, with a mean difference (MD) of 0.07 µmol/L (95% CI: 0.01 to 0.12; p = 0.03). However, this rise was attributed to the metabolic conversion of creatine into creatinine rather than any direct impact on renal function.
When analyzed by supplementation duration, short-term studies (up to one week) showed the most pronounced effect (MD = 0.12; 95% CI: 0.03–0.21). Mid-term trials (1–12 weeks) reported no significant differences (MD = 0.04; 95% CI: − 0.09 to 0.17), while studies extending beyond 12 weeks again demonstrated a slight but consistent increase. Also, across all durations, no significant changes were detected in GFR values between creatine and control groups.
Overall, the findings of this study suggest that creatine supplementation leads to a transient, mild elevation in serum creatinine, which reflects increased metabolic turnover rather than true kidney dysfunction. Glomerular filtration rate remained stable, indicating preserved renal function even with long-term use.
Reference:
Naeini, E. K., Eskandari, M., Mortazavi, M., Gholaminejad, A., & Karevan, N. (2025). Effect of creatine supplementation on kidney function: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Nephrology, 26(1), 622. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12882-025-04558-6
