Creatinine is a waste product that the kidneys clear from the blood. Its level tells your doctor how well the kidneys are filtering. Here is what it means, in plain language.
| Category | Reference range |
|---|---|
| Women | 53–97 µmol/L |
| Men | 62–115 µmol/L |
The normal range depends on sex, age and muscle mass. Kidney function is reflected more accurately by the estimated GFR (eGFR), which is calculated from creatinine. Always check the reference range printed on your own lab report.
Working muscles produce a waste product called creatinine. Normally the kidneys clear it out steadily in the urine. When the kidneys filter less well, creatinine builds up in the blood and the level goes up.
That makes creatinine an indirect “kidney gauge”. It is also used to calculate GFR (glomerular filtration rate), a more accurate measure of how the kidneys are working.
A high creatinine can point to reduced kidney function, but that is not the only explanation.
A low creatinine is usually less of a concern. It turns up with low muscle mass, in older people, in pregnancy, or after a long period of eating too little. It rarely needs treating in its own right, but it is read in context.
Look not only at creatinine itself but also at GFR (eGFR) — it reflects kidney function more accurately and takes age and sex into account. Urea and a urine test are often assessed alongside it.
In people with a lot of muscle mass, creatinine can sit above the reference range without any disease. The final call is made by a doctor looking at the whole picture.
No need to decode the numbers yourself: take a photo of the report and the app explains “Creatinine” and the rest in plain words — what is normal and what deserves attention.
Get the appOpen in TelegramMost often that the kidneys are filtering less well, but it can also come from dehydration, a lot of muscle mass, hard training and diet. The estimated GFR gives a clearer picture, and your doctor interprets it.
Roughly 53–97 µmol/L in women and 62–115 µmol/L in men, adjusted for age and muscle mass. Check the reference range on your own lab report.
GFR (glomerular filtration rate, eGFR) is calculated from creatinine and shows more accurately how the kidneys are working. It is the number a doctor looks at first.
This material is for general information only. It is not a medical opinion and does not replace a consultation with a doctor. Reference ranges depend on the laboratory and the method — rely on the range printed on your own report. Your doctor makes the final interpretation. This page is a translation of the Russian original. The medical review applies to the original text.
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