A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial found that creatine rapidly enhanced brain bioenergetics and improved cognitive performance during sleep deprivation, with effects lasting up to nine hours.
Before and after triple bypass cardiac surgery some months ago, I was prescribed statins. They caused a lot problems, mostly cognitive deficiencies. My internist agreed that I need to stop taking them and said to take creatinine, which comes with a measuring spoon. I take it with my morning coffee, as well as 3 drops of Lugol’s iodine. Plus other minerals and vitamins. I am slowly but surely regaining my mind and memory!
Sorry, creatine. I don’t take it with, but as well. The creatine comes with the unmarked measuring spoon in the container. You can find info on YouTube.
That is cool but if you have kidney issues it may be unsafe esp. if you take it on a regular basis or large amounts. It creates a waste product called creatinine that is hard for weaker kidneys (common in people over 60, but can happen at any age) to filter.
TL;DR: "Evidence in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients is thin but instructive: Small pilot studies in stage 2–3 CKD showed no change in measured GFR, cystatin C, or proteinuria at 3–6 months of 3–5 g/day creatine — but mild, reversible rises in serum creatinine. Case reports of damage are mostly confounded — energy drinks spiked with other stimulants, dehydration, or pre‑existing undiagnosed disease.
No well‑designed trial has ever shown frank renal injury in humans from pure creatine monohydrate at physiologic doses."
Many of us are reflexively skeptical of a lot of the medical "conventional wisdom" out there, yet it's wise to not reject it outright. I put the question to AlterAI:
Let’s separate biochemical noise (fake elevation of creatinine) from physiological load (the real filtration work your kidneys must do).
1. For healthy kidneys: harmless artifact
When kidneys are functioning normally, creatine supplementation simply increases total body creatine and slightly raises measured blood creatinine — that’s all. Both measured GFR and cystatin C stay normal, showing that filtration itself is unaffected. It’s a false alarm, not harm.
2. In pre‑existing kidney impairment: not toxic, but adds metabolic workload
Now, if someone already has reduced GFR, the situation changes—not because creatine is inherently nephrotoxic, but because:
The kidneys are already limited in excreting nitrogenous products (creatinine, urea, etc.). Supplementation increases the turnover of creatine → creatinine, which adds a small excretory burden. Even though the burden is modest, when filtration is compromised, that extra substrate may exaggerate the appearance of worsening kidney function, and occasionally cause transient azotemia if hydration is poor.
To put it simply:
“Creatine doesn’t hurt the kidneys — but kidneys already under strain may not need the extra work.” That’s why nephrologists often still advise against it unless they can monitor closely with cystatin C or measured GFR instead of creatinine alone.
3. What the research actually shows
Evidence in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients is thin but instructive:
Small pilot studies in stage 2–3 CKD showed no change in measured GFR, cystatin C, or proteinuria at 3–6 months of 3–5 g/day creatine — but mild, reversible rises in serum creatinine. Case reports of damage are mostly confounded — energy drinks spiked with other stimulants, dehydration, or pre‑existing undiagnosed disease.
No well‑designed trial has ever shown frank renal injury in humans from pure creatine monohydrate at physiologic doses.
Still, doctors are risk‑averse — because in advanced CKD or polycystic disease, even small metabolic shifts can precipitate fluid or electrolyte imbalance.
4. The practical threshold
You can think of kidney function on a spectrum:
EGFR (ML/MIN/1.73 M²) KIDNEYS’ ABILITY CREATINE USE GUIDANCE
> 60 (normal / mild decline) filtration unimpaired Generally safe if cystatin C stable and hydration good
30 – 60 (moderate CKD) caution zone Monitor cystatin C or stop if unexplained swelling, fatigue, rising blood pressure
< 30 (advanced failure) fragile filtration Avoid — not because of toxicity, but no safety margin left
This isn’t dogma — it’s prudence.
5. What a careful nephrologist or informed practitioner should do
If a CKD patient insists on using creatine for proven therapeutic reasons (e.g. sarcopenia, muscle wasting, cognitive resilience), then:
Use 3 g /day, not loading doses.
Track cystatin C eGFR, BUN, and urinalysis (albumin/protein) instead of looking only at creatinine. Ensure hydration ≥ 3 L/day and adequate electrolyte balance (especially sodium and magnesium). Discontinue if swelling, hypertension, or rising cystatin C trends appear.
Compromised kidneys: creatine is not poisonous, but it does force the kidneys to process a bit more nitrogenous waste; that small extra burden can matter when filtration reserve is already minimal. If you track with cystatin C or iohexol GFR and stay hydrated, low‑dose creatine can be used under medical supervision even with mild‑moderate CKD.
In truth, what’s dangerous for an ailing kidney isn’t the creatine molecule — it’s dehydration, poor labs, and physicians who misinterpret numbers without context.
Is that harm based on their blood work? I asked AlterAI to explain the misunderstanding of this and explain how to get around it:
It's yet another case of medical "conventional wisdom" getting it wrong based on a misunderstanding of how creatine is processed by the kidneys. If they use Cystatin C testing instead of the standard testing, the artifact goes away. Here's AlterAI's explanation:
1. Why creatinine rises with creatine supplementation
When you consume creatine monohydrate, a predictable portion of it is converted nonenzymatically into creatinine. Because labs estimate kidney filtration based on serum creatinine, a harmless metabolic byproduct, the apparent “rise” in creatinine mimics kidney damage even when kidney filtration (true GFR) is perfectly intact.
The Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine (Sept 2025) explicitly notes that in muscular people or those taking creatine, “serum creatinine alone may not accurately reflect kidney function.”
The 2025 systematic review and meta-analysis in BMC Nephrology confirms that creatine raises serum creatinine slightly but does not reduce measured GFR — meaning no damage, just higher readings.
The classic Gualano et al. randomized trial (Eur J Appl Physiol 2008) even showed decreased cystatin C (improved filtration) after 12 weeks of high-dose creatine.
This is the exact “false positive kidney disease” scenario your quoted MD referred to.
2. Why cystatin C solves the problem
Cystatin C is a filtration marker produced by all nucleated cells, independent of muscle mass, diet, or creatine intake. Because creatine supplementation affects only the creatine–creatinine pathway, cystatin C stays stable.
When you measure both markers together in the same sample (the CKD‑EPI combined creatinine–cystatin C equation), you get an eGFR that neutralizes the artifact. Cleveland Clinic, NYU Langone, and KDIGO 2024 all recommend this dual‑marker method in muscular or creatine‑using individuals.
So, yes: if you use cystatin C to estimate kidney function, that “false elevation” disappears, revealing your real GFR.
3. What to do in practice
If you take lab tests while using creatine, expect creatinine-based eGFR to be lower than it truly is. To avoid alarm, either stop creatine for 5–7 days before your blood draw, or ask for eGFR cystatin C (or the combined equation). Cystatin C testing is still underutilized in many labs—less than 10 % offer it in-house—but Quest, Labcorp, and most hospital systems can run it if requested.
4. What’s actually risky—and what’s propaganda
The idea that creatine “harms the kidneys” arose from early animal studies using extreme doses or models with existing renal pathology. Decades of human data—including multi‑month supplementation at 10–20 g /day—have shown no renal toxicity in healthy people.
True risks come mainly from:
Dehydration: creatine increases total body water demand.
Contaminants in cheap, unverified powders (heavy metals, dicyandiamide residues). Pre‑existing kidney disease, where any added nitrogen load may stress already-scarred nephrons.
When pure creatine is used responsibly with hydration, the long‑standing notion of “kidney damage” is an institutional relic kept alive by inertia.
In short:
Creatine doesn’t hurt your kidneys — it just fools the test that assumes everyone eats like a 70‑year‑old sedentary person. Measure cystatin C or take a week off before blood work, and the “problem” vanishes. Institutions have been slow to update their practical advice, but independent and clinical data now converge on that exact conclusion.
My name on here was originally Someone but another Someone kept Liking my comments, almost to where it felt like a bot. In the early days I had email notifications tuned on—so kept getting emails each time—then somebody else said they were getting constant Likes from a Someone—so I changed my name to not be mistaken for the other Someone. If that makes sense. I haven’t seen that other Someone in a long time.
Creatinine is natural but is also a byproduct of taking creatine. Taking creatine can raise creatinine levels in the blood, usually short-term. If you’re healthy it’s generally okay, but if you have kidney issues it may make things worse. A lot of people don’t pay enough attention to kidney tests!
Hmmm.... judging from the comments here, everyone is getting excited about an effect that was determined on SLEEP-DEPRIVED individuals. What is the effect on people with normal/adequate sleep?
Could creatinine possibly be helpful as a means to abort the onset of 3-4 day cycle where a 21 yo male family member is unable to sleep? He was recently diagnosed schizoaffective but the sleep deprivation could affect any person’s mental state. He hits these 3-4 day periods where he can’t sleep and this in turn triggers yet another psychotic event landing him back in the mental hospital. He does not like (for good reason)nor does he stay on his psych meds as he does not recognize/denies mental illness. But the 3-4 insomnia bouts are definite trigger for psychotic events. He is not manic during these bouts, he just can’t sleep. Any experience with this?
Dr Mindy Pelz did a recent video on using creatine and magnesium at night to assist with sleep. Some comments on the video indicate it can be stimulating in some people. https://youtu.be/HvXPiKpXwmM?si=qFTCk_zn3irCCb_g
I've been taking glycine to assist with sleep as I was only getting 2-3 hr. sleep a night. Glycine is an amino acid that can improve sleep quality by helping you fall asleep faster and enhancing deep sleep stages.
I watched a podcast where a Doctor was saying she put it in her parents morning coffee and that it was not affected by heat 👍 Apparently though you cannot mix it up in a drink to sip through the day, it needs to be consumed reasonably quickly... like the time to drink a coffee 😋 🇨🇦
The hippocampus can only neuro-regenerate during sleep, and without that the brain cannot properly deal with important decision-taking and memory-making/recollection during the day.
Lipid nanoparticles and mRNA are designed (Weissman and Kariko) to cross the blood-brain barrier, which causes the hippocampus to shut down.
In short, we shouldn't be the ones to correct a scientifically repeatable benefit assessment by pointing out the side effects that have been ignored.
The kidneys could be damaged, and if creatine is taken frequently, the effect could diminish over time. The article doesn't tell us this either, but it's likely the case, as it happens with all foods and supplements.
Furthermore, if the beneficial effect works on people with problems caused by lack of sleep, I don't believe these people have a chronic creatine deficiency. Therefore, creatine is added to a metabolism that isn't lacking. In practice, today, nothing is cured, almost always ambiguously. A beneficial effect is forced, which "distracts," creates a diversion, or attenuates a symptom of a complex pathology whose causes are not being addressed.
I have seen a video where a researcher has been taking 20mg daily for 20 years I think - and appreciates the benefits. I am 96kg myself and tend to take 10mg daily. HTH
Before and after triple bypass cardiac surgery some months ago, I was prescribed statins. They caused a lot problems, mostly cognitive deficiencies. My internist agreed that I need to stop taking them and said to take creatinine, which comes with a measuring spoon. I take it with my morning coffee, as well as 3 drops of Lugol’s iodine. Plus other minerals and vitamins. I am slowly but surely regaining my mind and memory!
Pharma is very disappointed you stopped taking their statins. What a horrible product those are.
What is benefit of taking Creatinine with Lugol’s iodine, and how much creatinine?
Sorry, creatine. I don’t take it with, but as well. The creatine comes with the unmarked measuring spoon in the container. You can find info on YouTube.
That is cool but if you have kidney issues it may be unsafe esp. if you take it on a regular basis or large amounts. It creates a waste product called creatinine that is hard for weaker kidneys (common in people over 60, but can happen at any age) to filter.
TL;DR: "Evidence in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients is thin but instructive: Small pilot studies in stage 2–3 CKD showed no change in measured GFR, cystatin C, or proteinuria at 3–6 months of 3–5 g/day creatine — but mild, reversible rises in serum creatinine. Case reports of damage are mostly confounded — energy drinks spiked with other stimulants, dehydration, or pre‑existing undiagnosed disease.
No well‑designed trial has ever shown frank renal injury in humans from pure creatine monohydrate at physiologic doses."
Many of us are reflexively skeptical of a lot of the medical "conventional wisdom" out there, yet it's wise to not reject it outright. I put the question to AlterAI:
Let’s separate biochemical noise (fake elevation of creatinine) from physiological load (the real filtration work your kidneys must do).
1. For healthy kidneys: harmless artifact
When kidneys are functioning normally, creatine supplementation simply increases total body creatine and slightly raises measured blood creatinine — that’s all. Both measured GFR and cystatin C stay normal, showing that filtration itself is unaffected. It’s a false alarm, not harm.
2. In pre‑existing kidney impairment: not toxic, but adds metabolic workload
Now, if someone already has reduced GFR, the situation changes—not because creatine is inherently nephrotoxic, but because:
The kidneys are already limited in excreting nitrogenous products (creatinine, urea, etc.). Supplementation increases the turnover of creatine → creatinine, which adds a small excretory burden. Even though the burden is modest, when filtration is compromised, that extra substrate may exaggerate the appearance of worsening kidney function, and occasionally cause transient azotemia if hydration is poor.
To put it simply:
“Creatine doesn’t hurt the kidneys — but kidneys already under strain may not need the extra work.” That’s why nephrologists often still advise against it unless they can monitor closely with cystatin C or measured GFR instead of creatinine alone.
3. What the research actually shows
Evidence in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients is thin but instructive:
Small pilot studies in stage 2–3 CKD showed no change in measured GFR, cystatin C, or proteinuria at 3–6 months of 3–5 g/day creatine — but mild, reversible rises in serum creatinine. Case reports of damage are mostly confounded — energy drinks spiked with other stimulants, dehydration, or pre‑existing undiagnosed disease.
No well‑designed trial has ever shown frank renal injury in humans from pure creatine monohydrate at physiologic doses.
Still, doctors are risk‑averse — because in advanced CKD or polycystic disease, even small metabolic shifts can precipitate fluid or electrolyte imbalance.
4. The practical threshold
You can think of kidney function on a spectrum:
EGFR (ML/MIN/1.73 M²) KIDNEYS’ ABILITY CREATINE USE GUIDANCE
> 60 (normal / mild decline) filtration unimpaired Generally safe if cystatin C stable and hydration good
30 – 60 (moderate CKD) caution zone Monitor cystatin C or stop if unexplained swelling, fatigue, rising blood pressure
< 30 (advanced failure) fragile filtration Avoid — not because of toxicity, but no safety margin left
This isn’t dogma — it’s prudence.
5. What a careful nephrologist or informed practitioner should do
If a CKD patient insists on using creatine for proven therapeutic reasons (e.g. sarcopenia, muscle wasting, cognitive resilience), then:
Use 3 g /day, not loading doses.
Track cystatin C eGFR, BUN, and urinalysis (albumin/protein) instead of looking only at creatinine. Ensure hydration ≥ 3 L/day and adequate electrolyte balance (especially sodium and magnesium). Discontinue if swelling, hypertension, or rising cystatin C trends appear.
Bottom line
Healthy kidneys: creatinine rise = harmless lab artifact.
Compromised kidneys: creatine is not poisonous, but it does force the kidneys to process a bit more nitrogenous waste; that small extra burden can matter when filtration reserve is already minimal. If you track with cystatin C or iohexol GFR and stay hydrated, low‑dose creatine can be used under medical supervision even with mild‑moderate CKD.
In truth, what’s dangerous for an ailing kidney isn’t the creatine molecule — it’s dehydration, poor labs, and physicians who misinterpret numbers without context.
agree, I reduce the dose of their OTC creatine in some ppl because they take too much and harm their kidneys
Is that harm based on their blood work? I asked AlterAI to explain the misunderstanding of this and explain how to get around it:
It's yet another case of medical "conventional wisdom" getting it wrong based on a misunderstanding of how creatine is processed by the kidneys. If they use Cystatin C testing instead of the standard testing, the artifact goes away. Here's AlterAI's explanation:
1. Why creatinine rises with creatine supplementation
When you consume creatine monohydrate, a predictable portion of it is converted nonenzymatically into creatinine. Because labs estimate kidney filtration based on serum creatinine, a harmless metabolic byproduct, the apparent “rise” in creatinine mimics kidney damage even when kidney filtration (true GFR) is perfectly intact.
The Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine (Sept 2025) explicitly notes that in muscular people or those taking creatine, “serum creatinine alone may not accurately reflect kidney function.”
The 2025 systematic review and meta-analysis in BMC Nephrology confirms that creatine raises serum creatinine slightly but does not reduce measured GFR — meaning no damage, just higher readings.
The classic Gualano et al. randomized trial (Eur J Appl Physiol 2008) even showed decreased cystatin C (improved filtration) after 12 weeks of high-dose creatine.
This is the exact “false positive kidney disease” scenario your quoted MD referred to.
2. Why cystatin C solves the problem
Cystatin C is a filtration marker produced by all nucleated cells, independent of muscle mass, diet, or creatine intake. Because creatine supplementation affects only the creatine–creatinine pathway, cystatin C stays stable.
When you measure both markers together in the same sample (the CKD‑EPI combined creatinine–cystatin C equation), you get an eGFR that neutralizes the artifact. Cleveland Clinic, NYU Langone, and KDIGO 2024 all recommend this dual‑marker method in muscular or creatine‑using individuals.
So, yes: if you use cystatin C to estimate kidney function, that “false elevation” disappears, revealing your real GFR.
3. What to do in practice
If you take lab tests while using creatine, expect creatinine-based eGFR to be lower than it truly is. To avoid alarm, either stop creatine for 5–7 days before your blood draw, or ask for eGFR cystatin C (or the combined equation). Cystatin C testing is still underutilized in many labs—less than 10 % offer it in-house—but Quest, Labcorp, and most hospital systems can run it if requested.
4. What’s actually risky—and what’s propaganda
The idea that creatine “harms the kidneys” arose from early animal studies using extreme doses or models with existing renal pathology. Decades of human data—including multi‑month supplementation at 10–20 g /day—have shown no renal toxicity in healthy people.
True risks come mainly from:
Dehydration: creatine increases total body water demand.
Contaminants in cheap, unverified powders (heavy metals, dicyandiamide residues). Pre‑existing kidney disease, where any added nitrogen load may stress already-scarred nephrons.
When pure creatine is used responsibly with hydration, the long‑standing notion of “kidney damage” is an institutional relic kept alive by inertia.
In short:
Creatine doesn’t hurt your kidneys — it just fools the test that assumes everyone eats like a 70‑year‑old sedentary person. Measure cystatin C or take a week off before blood work, and the “problem” vanishes. Institutions have been slow to update their practical advice, but independent and clinical data now converge on that exact conclusion.
Who were you formerly known as?
My name on here was originally Someone but another Someone kept Liking my comments, almost to where it felt like a bot. In the early days I had email notifications tuned on—so kept getting emails each time—then somebody else said they were getting constant Likes from a Someone—so I changed my name to not be mistaken for the other Someone. If that makes sense. I haven’t seen that other Someone in a long time.
The same here. Who is that mysterious Someone?
Have missed seeing your likes 😊
Ha, thanks!
Wondering about that too. Does this use of oral creatinine translate to measurable blood levels that indicate potential harm to kidneys?
Creatinine is natural but is also a byproduct of taking creatine. Taking creatine can raise creatinine levels in the blood, usually short-term. If you’re healthy it’s generally okay, but if you have kidney issues it may make things worse. A lot of people don’t pay enough attention to kidney tests!
Are you in the medical field?
No. I monitor my kidneys
Hmmm.... judging from the comments here, everyone is getting excited about an effect that was determined on SLEEP-DEPRIVED individuals. What is the effect on people with normal/adequate sleep?
Could creatinine possibly be helpful as a means to abort the onset of 3-4 day cycle where a 21 yo male family member is unable to sleep? He was recently diagnosed schizoaffective but the sleep deprivation could affect any person’s mental state. He hits these 3-4 day periods where he can’t sleep and this in turn triggers yet another psychotic event landing him back in the mental hospital. He does not like (for good reason)nor does he stay on his psych meds as he does not recognize/denies mental illness. But the 3-4 insomnia bouts are definite trigger for psychotic events. He is not manic during these bouts, he just can’t sleep. Any experience with this?
Dr Mindy Pelz did a recent video on using creatine and magnesium at night to assist with sleep. Some comments on the video indicate it can be stimulating in some people. https://youtu.be/HvXPiKpXwmM?si=qFTCk_zn3irCCb_g
Don't let him sleep near his phone and turn off the router if possible. Verian root, magnesium, and melatonin.
I've been taking glycine to assist with sleep as I was only getting 2-3 hr. sleep a night. Glycine is an amino acid that can improve sleep quality by helping you fall asleep faster and enhancing deep sleep stages.
I take about 3/5g in my fist coffee in the morning. Is it ok to mix in hot drinks?
I watched a podcast where a Doctor was saying she put it in her parents morning coffee and that it was not affected by heat 👍 Apparently though you cannot mix it up in a drink to sip through the day, it needs to be consumed reasonably quickly... like the time to drink a coffee 😋 🇨🇦
I take creatine with my food. I can confirm that it totally changes what happens after disrupted sleep. It is amazing.
What about a shower?
A shower is like 2 hours of sleep when you have been up in the hospital all night on call.
;-)
"...during sleep deprivation." What's the significance of that condition?
The hippocampus can only neuro-regenerate during sleep, and without that the brain cannot properly deal with important decision-taking and memory-making/recollection during the day.
Lipid nanoparticles and mRNA are designed (Weissman and Kariko) to cross the blood-brain barrier, which causes the hippocampus to shut down.
A detailed interview about it:
https://thehighwire.com/ark-videos/the-indoctrinated-brain-with-dr-michael-nehls/
In short, we shouldn't be the ones to correct a scientifically repeatable benefit assessment by pointing out the side effects that have been ignored.
The kidneys could be damaged, and if creatine is taken frequently, the effect could diminish over time. The article doesn't tell us this either, but it's likely the case, as it happens with all foods and supplements.
Furthermore, if the beneficial effect works on people with problems caused by lack of sleep, I don't believe these people have a chronic creatine deficiency. Therefore, creatine is added to a metabolism that isn't lacking. In practice, today, nothing is cured, almost always ambiguously. A beneficial effect is forced, which "distracts," creates a diversion, or attenuates a symptom of a complex pathology whose causes are not being addressed.
ok, so, do I give it to a dementia patient. I know creatine can be dangerous if not handled properly. Please reply.
A review of some studies by a doctor who gave creatine to his elderly mother:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FsHq03ecnhM
I was also wondering if this could possibly be a help for dementia.
I do wonder if creatine could help people with degenerative diseases like Bruce Willis?
Useful information, Nicolas. I wonder if it would benefit students writing exams, seniors scheduled for driving tests, and surgeons facing a long day.
Does the same effect accrue following sustained supplementation with low-dose creatine?
20g is not a single dose. 5g is more like a single daily dose.
Was planning on getting some for muscle mass, but now another very good reason. TY
Is there a regular brain benefit to just taking it every day like a vitamin?
I have seen a video where a researcher has been taking 20mg daily for 20 years I think - and appreciates the benefits. I am 96kg myself and tend to take 10mg daily. HTH