I've used apx 5 g of creatine and 2 scoops of whey protein in my post workout shakes for the last 8 years. I am 52 years old and have been a fitness enthusiest through out both a military career (1978-2000) and since. Today, I had an annual physical and my blood work came back with both a 25 BUN and 1.39 creatinine readings. The physician said that both were a little elevated. When she did the EGFR Kidney test, I scored a 57.03 ml/min which means moderate kidney damage (93mil/min ideal kidney function) I am 5'9" and 172 lbs. I bench with 250lbs (5 sets of 5reps)on heavy week and 210lbs (10 sets of 10 reps)on light weeks. This is all part of an old "nickel and dime" body building program. The National kidney foundation had in their article that sometimes these scores are sort of inconclusive for those who supplement with creatine or are body builders. I am curious as to what information other body building types have been exposed to. I am cutting my intake by have til I get more information.
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Supplements and Kidney Health
- Thread starter fit2fight
- Start date
I'm not too knowledgeable about kidney health, but it could make sense that too much protein could cause some kidney damage. It depends on what your daily intake of protein from your regular diet is. I would log your diet to see if the protein supplementation is necessary. Also, normally, creatine should be taken in cycles and you should have routine periods where you stop taking it for a few weeks or months.
It's also possible that the creatine elevation is simply due to the fact that you supplement and has nothing to do with your kidneys. It could also just be an age factor, depending on your exact state of health. As you age, there's commonly a decrease in muscle mass which would release the muscle's contents into the blood, creatine being one of them. I'm not sure if this would be the case for you, but again, it's one thing to think about. I have no knowledge about BUN, unfortunately.
Again, this isn't something that I'm experienced with and I'm only going off of my knowledge with physiology. To me, though, I think further medical testing on your part is the only thing that can confirm what's going on.
It's also possible that the creatine elevation is simply due to the fact that you supplement and has nothing to do with your kidneys. It could also just be an age factor, depending on your exact state of health. As you age, there's commonly a decrease in muscle mass which would release the muscle's contents into the blood, creatine being one of them. I'm not sure if this would be the case for you, but again, it's one thing to think about. I have no knowledge about BUN, unfortunately.
Again, this isn't something that I'm experienced with and I'm only going off of my knowledge with physiology. To me, though, I think further medical testing on your part is the only thing that can confirm what's going on.
It is difficult to give full medical/diet advice on a forum like this because we are essentially all strangers with no real comprehensive knowledge of a person's full medical background
But ... having said that .............
Every single report and study I have ever read shows NO RISK to an otherwise healthy person who consumes ............
1) 1 gram of Protein for each pound of lean bodyweight
2) 5 grams of creatine daily
In fact this amount is very,very,very common among fitness folks.
So although we know nothing is impossible in life when it comes to people's personal genetic or physical make-up ............... there is nothing that jumps out as irregular or super high risk with the small amount of supplementation you mention.
Maybe there is something else going on -or- something else in your routine creating a situation ?
Michael Spitzer
Author
Fitness at 40,50,60 and Beyond
But ... having said that .............
Every single report and study I have ever read shows NO RISK to an otherwise healthy person who consumes ............
1) 1 gram of Protein for each pound of lean bodyweight
2) 5 grams of creatine daily
In fact this amount is very,very,very common among fitness folks.
So although we know nothing is impossible in life when it comes to people's personal genetic or physical make-up ............... there is nothing that jumps out as irregular or super high risk with the small amount of supplementation you mention.
Maybe there is something else going on -or- something else in your routine creating a situation ?
Michael Spitzer
Author
Fitness at 40,50,60 and Beyond