# Creatinine --- **Creatinine** is a waste product made by the [[skeletal muscle|muscles]] and eliminated by the [[kidneys]]. Since it is produced at a steady rate and there's no reason to reabsorb, measuring creatinine in the blood is a good proxy for how well the kidneys are functioning. It is tested for in a [[labs|basic metabolic panel]]. Body mass, specifically muscle mass, determines the level of creatinine in the body, which usually at a stable level. Other things that alter creatinine levels are age and diet. >[!science] Normal values >The normal values for creatinine are: >- **0.7 to 1.3** mg/dL for men >- **0.6 to 1.1** mg/dL for women > >>[!abstract]- Visualization >>![[metabolic panel values.png]] ## Imbalances of Creatinine - High creatinine levels - can indicate poor kidney function (the kidneys normally clear out creatinine) - [[chronic kidney disease]] - [[renal calculi|kidney stones]] or [[prostate]] enlargement - [[kidneys|hydronephrosis]] - It can also indicate a high protein diet or intense exercise - Low creatinine can indicate low muscle mass or extremem weight loss ___