Blood test for urea and creatinine: normal, interpretation

Norm of creatinine and urea

Analysis indicators depend on the age and characteristics of the organism. The blood urea and creatinine levels will be presented below.

In humans, creatinine concentrations change over the years:

in umbilical cord blood – 53-106 µmol;
up to 4 days of life – 27-88 µmol;
up to 1 year – 18-35 µmol;
up to 12 years – 27-62 µmol;
up to 18 years – 44-88 µmol;
adult women - 19-177 µmol;
adult men – 124 – 230 µmol.

Elevated creatinine (up to 82.0 mmol/l) indicates renal failure. Indicators can be corrected with appropriate medications or folk remedies. If the kidneys are not functioning properly, it is very important to undergo an examination to prescribe subsequent therapy. Diseases such as liver dystrophy, jaundice, and pneumonia can be detected. Indicators especially deviate from the norm in acute renal and liver failure. In this case, you should pay attention to your diet, for more details, see the article Diet for high creatinine.

The level of urea depends on metabolic processes in the body, kidney function, and liver condition. The extreme limits of urea content in the blood are 2.5 – 6.4 mmol/l. In general, the indicators of these substances are purely individual. Urea present in excess indicates kidney disease. An increased level of the substance indicates a high degree of nitrogen.

When taking a urea test, you should know about the norm:

infants – 1.2 – 5.3 mmol/l;
up to 14 years - 1.8–6.5 mmol/l;
up to 60 years – 2.3 – 7.3 mmol/l;
after 60 years – 2.8 – 7.5 mmol/l.

Reduced levels of analysis for urea and creatinine indicate problems with the liver. The norm may decrease during pregnancy, hepatitis, acromegaly. Also, reduced levels of these substances occur during fasting, vegetarianism, high fluid intake, and hepatic coma.

Biochemical blood test for creatinine - normal and abnormalities

Creatinine is removed from the body through the kidneys. Why then is blood biochemistry done to determine creatinine concentration? This is done because a certain amount of the substance is in the blood at a constant level. At the same time, there is the concept of a norm corresponding to gender, age, health status and other factors:

food quality;
chronic diseases;
diseases of internal organs;
physical activity.

The table below shows the normal creatinine concentration for certain population groups.

Gender and age group	Preschool children	School age children	Women	Men
Creatinine norm (μmol/liter)	45 to 105	27 to 62	44 to 80	74 to 111

The level of substance content varies slightly between genders. So for the female half the indicator is slightly lower, which is explained:

physiological features - less muscle mass;
metabolism of formation – low activity of substance formation.

Deciphering the results of studies of creatinine concentration in the blood may show an increased or decreased level:

an increased result in a significant rate may indicate damage to muscle tissue, accompanied by symptoms;
a slight increase may go unnoticed by the body, since creatinine is not a toxic substance for humans.

source

How to get tested?

It is important to carefully prepare for the test for creatinine and urea. Before the study, it is prohibited to eat food later than 8 hours before donating blood. You are only allowed to drink water. Tea, coffee, juice and other drinks are strictly prohibited. Blood sampling is performed early in the morning, on an empty stomach.

Before the procedure, you should not eat protein foods. It is recommended not to be nervous and avoid any stress. These tests allow the doctor to get an idea of how the breakdown of waste products occurs in the patient’s body.

It is necessary to regularly monitor these substances in the body. This will allow you to diagnose the dynamics of metabolism and nitrogen metabolism. Elevated levels often indicate to the doctor intoxication and insufficient functions of internal organs.

The procedure is not complicated and does not take much time. The manipulation must be performed by a qualified healthcare professional in an equipped room. The doctor interprets the results obtained.

Diet

With normal kidney and liver function, consumed foods with a high protein content do not cause the accumulation of creatinine and urea in the blood, and when they appear, they are immediately excreted along with urine. There is a certain category of food products, the consumption of which reduces the concentration of creatinine and urea in the blood.

To achieve this effect, it is recommended to adhere to the following rules:

do not abuse foods containing high amounts of protein compounds (meat, fish, legumes, nuts, chicken eggs);
drink as much water as possible;
give up alcohol and carbonated drinks;
periodically consume a decoction of rosehip, Sudanese rose, compotes based on black and red currants, viburnum, cranberries, which stimulate kidney function and cleanse the blood of metabolic products;
include cereal porridges containing a high level of fiber in your diet (wheat, barley, corn, pearl barley).

In addition, do not forget that nutrition should be balanced. It is necessary to consume a sufficient amount of fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs so that the body is saturated with natural vitamins and minerals. At least once a year, donate blood for a biochemical analysis to determine the level of creatinine and urea in order to promptly detect the development of a possible disease and prevent serious consequences for your health.

How to lower creatinine in the blood

As a result of a complex sequential metabolic process that ensures the smooth functioning of the muscular system, a residual breakdown product, creatinine, regularly enters the blood. This metabolite has toxic characteristics that have a negative effect, but if it is maintained normally, the body is not exposed to any risks.

Otherwise, when the concentration of a substance exceeds generally accepted standards, the situation can become quite serious.

Such a sign can be a dangerous symptom of kidney diseases that affect their parenchyma, due to which the filtration capacity is significantly reduced.

In some cases, an increase in creatinine may be due to physiological reasons, which is considered less dangerous.

But we should not forget about its harmful effects, and if a biochemical analysis (BAC) showed an increase in the concentration of this compound, then you should pay attention to your health. The first thing you need to do is consult a doctor, find out the reason for this increase, and then get recommendations on how to reduce creatinine in the blood.

When does an increase in creatinine occur?

Considering that the reasons for increased creatinine levels can be both physiological and pathological, that is, due to the development of diseases, you need to carefully choose methods for reducing it.

This is especially true for medications. First of all, possible pathologies should be excluded, and then it will be determined what led to the increase in physiologically determined factors.

Such factors may be the following.

Intense physical activity - the body requires a significant amount of energy, as a result of which more creatinine is released.

As a rule, a healthy body itself is able to cope with such side effects - all that is needed is proper rest.

But if a person, for example, an athlete, a bodybuilder or someone engaged in heavy physical labor, cannot afford to take a break, then it is worth thinking about ways in which you can reduce your creatinine level.

Taking a certain number of medications. These include some antibiotics, and sometimes a long course of Ibuprofen can cause an increase in creatinine. There is a lot of protein in the usual diet. Meat and fish, especially fatty varieties, are considered protein-rich foods, and when they are consumed excessively, it is difficult for the urinary system to cope, which leads to an increase in creatinine in the blood.

Dehydration - loss of fluid or insufficient intake of fluid into the body leads to an increase in the concentration of many substances, including creatinine.

Adolescence - at this time there is a strong growth spurt in muscle structures, which also leads to an increase in the described metabolite.

Pregnancy and lactation period - there is an increased production of female hormones, activating metabolism.

Pathological factors also include a fairly impressive list, including:

Blood test for alkaline phosphatase

diseases of the urinary system, in particular the kidneys;
liver pathologies occurring in severe form;
autoimmune diseases accompanied by connective tissue damage;
diseases of the endocrine system – diabetes mellitus, thyrotoxicosis;
severe form of muscular dystrophy, myasthenia gravis;
burn disease affecting a large surface of the skin;
oncological processes with the development of metastatic foci;
crash syndrome of large muscle masses, traumatic toxicosis;
infectious diseases (leptospirosis, etc.), radiation sickness;
gangrenous complications of vascular and infectious diseases.

Such causes of increased creatinine can lead to the development of a decompensated form of renal failure.

Therefore, the doctor will carry out additional diagnostic measures as soon as possible to find the factor causing the jump in creatinine values.

The first step in the biochemical analysis is to study urea and creatinine, since they are both end products and must be excreted from the body through the kidneys. Based on their changes, initial conclusions can be drawn about the state of the urinary system.

Medicines to reduce indicators

If during the examination of the patient it turned out that no pathologies associated with the upward shift of the substance were found, then the doctor explains what measures will help lower creatinine in the blood. In case of minor deviations, a specialist can recommend a specific list of drugs that regulate protein-amino acid metabolism and contain alpha-lipoic acid.

The choice of such medications is made solely by the doctor based on test data and the patient’s condition. The dosage is calculated according to the same principle. For such purposes, Chitosan, Ketosteril and Lespeflan are used. These drugs, like many others, have contraindications and can cause a certain number of side effects.

Therefore, a doctor should prescribe and monitor treatment with these medications, and periodically monitor blood composition using a LHC. Do not forget that self-medication is dangerous due to multiple complications, which often lead to very sad consequences that cause irreparable damage to the body.

How to independently monitor creatinine levels?

In addition, you can familiarize yourself with the following information, thanks to which it is easy to normalize this indicator. There are enough ways to reduce creatinine, and you may not even have to use medications. Although for the last condition it is necessary to identify deviations from the norm in an unadvanced form.

Nutrition correction

For some patients with mild hypercreatinemia (increased creatinine), a properly balanced diet will be an excellent recommendation and will help quickly bring blood composition into order.

Dietary nutrition for such manifestations mainly involves limiting the intake of protein foods.

However, this can only be done after consulting a doctor, so as not to create additional health problems.

The duration and severity of such a diet for each person is calculated individually, taking into account his condition, age and other related factors. As a rule, the following are excluded:

fatty and protein foods - meat, fish, cheeses, milk;
baking from yeast dough, bakery products, sweets;
hot, spicy, smoked, marinated and fried dishes.

They also sharply reduce the consumption of sugar and salt (at the beginning it is reduced to 2-3 grams per day). Neglecting these requirements can cause an increase in blood pressure (BP) and a further increase in creatinine.

Eggs and meat products are allowed to be eaten no more than three times a week, and no more than 200 grams of meat.

You cannot completely give up these products, as they provide the body with the necessary supply of vital substances.

For a designated period of time, foods containing a lot of phosphorus and potassium are limited in the diet: nuts, dried fruits, potatoes, bananas, zucchini, pumpkin, etc. It is not forbidden to eat grain porridge, dairy products, olive and sunflower oil in the usual quantities. You are allowed to drink non-carbonated water, juices, fruit drinks, tea and various herbal infusions.

Fatty meats (pork) and fish are prohibited if creatinine levels are high

Normalization of lifestyle

One of the main components of preserving and maintaining health throughout human existence is lifestyle.

Well-being, performance, and the tendency to develop diseases depend on its quality.

Therefore, proper nutrition, dosage of work and rest, adherence to drinking regime, bad habits and activity - everything can affect the activity of any organ. And the kidneys are no exception in this case.

Drinking regime

So, to lower creatinine, you need to follow a few simple rules. Be sure to drink enough fluid - if there is a shortage, the body will become dehydrated and, therefore, the concentration of the substance will increase. The norm for a healthy person to drink liquid is approximately 1.5–2 liters of still water per day.

Reference! The required daily volume of fluid consumed is an individual value and is determined for each person depending on age, body weight and characteristics of the body.

It is worth remembering that exceeding the daily volume is also undesirable, since filtering more fluid will overload the kidneys. In case of renal failure, such side effects should be feared, because they can cause complications.

Physical activity

For each person, the required level of physical activity is individual and is determined by his age, fitness and endurance of the body, as well as his state of health. Of course, sports and basic physical education should be the norm, but not everyone loves and strives to devote time to it.

If the increase in creatinine is caused by excessive muscle activity, then actions that lower it should be aimed at reducing such activity. After all, the more work the muscles produce, the correspondingly more of the final product is released. Therefore, intense workouts associated, for example, with weightlifting, can be replaced by race walking or yoga.

Sleep stabilization

To maintain normal kidney function, sleep plays two roles. The first is to reduce the load on the urinary system, since during sleep all processes slow down and many organs, including the kidneys, “rest.”

The second role is healthy, full sleep, at least 6–8 hours, which allows the body to replenish wasted energy and missing resources. Chronic lack of sleep leads to a stressful state, as a result of which an increase in creatinine is observed.

Phytotherapy

Alternative medicine methods have long been used for almost all diseases or conditions of the body. For hypercreatinemia, alternative methods are also used to reduce the level of this substance. Of course, with a pronounced increase, you will definitely have to use medicine, but if the concentration is not too high, it is quite possible to cope with folk remedies.

Herbal tea and decoctions of medicinal plants have a diuretic and, accordingly, cleansing effect, which ensures a decrease in creatinine. Therefore, they are prescribed both as an independent remedy at low magnification, and at significant magnification as an auxiliary therapy to the main medications. Recipes for preparing herbal teas or tinctures are as follows.

Cowberry

Pour 60 grams of plant leaves into a glass of boiling water and leave in a water bath for 30 minutes. Then cool, strain and drink a third of a glass three times a day.

Mint

Pour 2 tablespoons of dry collection into 500 ml of boiling water. Then leave in a thermos for two hours. Once infused, strain and drink throughout the day, adhering to a free regime.

Nettle

The plant is used both dry and fresh. Pour boiling water over 2 tablespoons, cover with a tight lid and wrap in a towel. Let it brew for an hour, strain and take half a glass twice a day.

Sage

A decoction of this plant normalizes creatinine levels very well, but it is better not to use it during pregnancy. When preparing, add 3 tablespoons of dandelion, birch bark and burdock root to 4 tablespoons of sage. Mix the mixture thoroughly and pour 3 tablespoons into one glass of boiling water. Then leave for at least three hours in a thermos, strain and drink 3 tablespoons before bed.

Mint tea is a simple and pleasant way to get rid of creatinemia

Rosehip and pomegranate

Place 1 tablespoon of rose hips and pomegranate peels into a thermos and pour 500 ml of boiling water. Let it brew for half an hour and take throughout the day.