Unprecedented research scope provides definitive reassurance: a 2025 systematic review synthesizing data from 685 clinical trials and 26,000 participants found no evidence of kidney damage among creatine users. This represents the most comprehensive safety evaluation of the supplement to date.
The critical distinction lies in measurement interpretation. While serum creatinine increased by 0.07 μmol/L on average, all objective kidney function markers—measured GFR, cystatin C, proteinuria, and albuminuria—remained unchanged. This dissociation between serum creatinine elevation and stable kidney health parameters definitively proves that the creatinine increase reflects altered metabolism, not renal impairment.
For clinicians reviewing laboratory results, these findings underscore the importance of using multiple kidney function assessments rather than relying solely on serum creatinine when evaluating patients taking creatine supplements.
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GMJ Brief · Key Finding
📰 Read the full article: Creatine and Kidney Damage: What the Evidence Actually Shows →
