There are various parameters set by our body which is to be met, and this serves as an indication of whether all our organs are in their optimum form. Our blood pressure, our blood sugar levels, creatinine levels, etc. are supposed to be within the accepted range which is an indicator that we are healthy.

People are familiar with the concepts of blood pressure and blood sugar levels. However, people remain a little less-informed on the need to maintain normal creatinine levels.

What is creatinine?
In simple words, creatinine is the chemical waste molecule that is a result of muscle metabolism. However, the mere presence of creatinine doesn’t indicate that the body is functioning abnormally. Every individual has creatinine in the body since it is a by-product of the wear and tear of the muscles. This creatinine is flushed out of the body by our kidneys, and thus normal creatinine levels are maintained in the body.

Why is it necessary to maintain normal creatinine levels?
Even creatinine levels function the same way blood sugar and blood pressure levels function. Unless normal creatinine levels are maintained, one cannot say that they are in perfect health. As mentioned earlier, creatinine is a waste product, and like every other waste material, it has to exit the body. The kidneys are assigned the role of cleansing the body of creatinine. However, after a blood check or a urine check, if the reports show high creatinine levels, this indicates that there’s something wrong with the kidneys.

Unless measures are taken to reduce creatinine levels, higher creatinine levels can result in kidney failure or some degenerative kidney disorder. Diabetes, high blood pressure, and certain drugs are known to increase the creatinine levels in the body. Unless measures are taken to maintain normal creatinine levels, the person is at risk of renal failure.

What are the normal creatinine levels?
Since the production of creatinine is a result of muscle metabolism, men have higher creatinine levels owing to greater muscle tissues. The level of creatinine can be determined by a blood check and a urine test. The normal creatinine levels for men, women, and children are as follows.

Normal blood creatinine levels are-

• For men- 0.6 TO 1.2mg/dL ; 53 to 106 mcmol/L
• For women- 0.5 to 1.1mg/dL ;44 to 97mcmol/L
• For teenagers- 0.5 to 1.0mg/dL
• For children- 0.3 to 0.7mg/dL

Normal urine creatinine levels-

• For men- 107 to 139mL/min; 1.8 to 2.3 mL/sec
• For women- 87 to 107mL/min; 1.5 to 1.8 mL/sec

Once the creatinine level exceeds the normal level, it is imperative that steps are taken to reduce creatinine levels.