Creatine and Kidney Disease Risk: What You Need |

In the 2025 study titled “Effect of Creatine Supplementation on Kidney Function: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis,” Elham Kabiri Naeini and colleagues conducted a comprehensive analysis to determine whether creatine monohydrate affects kidney health. Drawing from 21 human studies published between 2000 and 2025, the researchers examined the impact of creatine use on serum creatinine levels and glomerular filtration rate (GFR)—key markers of kidney function. Their findings revealed that creatine supplementation leads to a small, temporary increase in serum creatinine, which is attributed to normal metabolic processes rather than kidney damage. Importantly, GFR remained unchanged, indicating preserved kidney filtration efficiency. The study concludes that creatine does not impair kidney function in healthy individuals when consumed at recommended doses. This research is significant because it challenges long-standing misconceptions about creatine safety and reinforces its reputation as a well-tolerated supplement for athletes and clinical populations alike.

Key Takeaways of Creatine and Kidney Disease Risk: What the Latest 2025 Study Really Says

A new meta-analysis published in BMC Nephrology (2025) found that creatine supplementation causes a small, temporary rise in blood creatinine levels that reflects normal metabolism, not kidney damage. This finding is significant when considering the debate around creatine and kidney disease risk.

Glomerular filtration rate (GFR)—the best marker of kidney health—remained unchanged in healthy people taking creatine.

The study indicates that creatine monohydrate is safe for kidney function in healthy adults when used at recommended doses, helping to reduce—but not eliminate—concerns about creatine and kidney disease risk.

Understanding Creatine and Kidney Disease Risk

If you’ve spent any time on fitness forums, you’ve probably seen the warning: “Creatine damages your kidneys!” It’s one of the most persistent myths in sports nutrition. But science tells a different story. A new study titled “Effect of creatine supplementation on kidney function: a systematic review and meta-analysis” by Naeini, Eskandari, Mortazavi, Gholaminejad, and Karevan, published in BMC Nephrology (2025), has taken a hard look at this very question. And the results? Creatine does not cause kidney damage or increase kidney disease risk.

This study is important because creatine is one of the most popular supplements in the world—used by athletes, gym-goers, and even clinical patients to support energy, strength, and recovery. Yet, many still hesitate to take it due to fears about kidney function. Let’s break down what this new research found and what it means for your health.

Review of the Literature: The Truth About Creatine and Kidney Disease Risk

For decades, creatine monohydrate has been known for improving athletic performance by helping muscles produce energy more efficiently. Your body naturally makes creatine from amino acids found in foods like meat and fish. Supplementing with creatine boosts your muscles’ phosphocreatine stores, giving you an extra energy buffer for high-intensity exercise.

So where did the kidney concerns come from? Early reports and animal studies raised red flags when they noticed increased levels of creatinine—a waste product of creatine metabolism—in the blood after supplementation. Because high creatinine levels can be a sign of kidney trouble, people assumed creatine must be harmful to the kidneys [(Wyss & Kaddurah-Daouk, 2000).

But here’s the catch: elevated creatinine from creatine supplements doesn’t mean your kidneys are failing—it simply reflects that more creatine is being broken down in your body. It’s a harmless, predictable effect of taking creatine [(Pline & Smith, 2005)]. Many later human studies found no actual harm to kidney function [(Gualano et al., 2008; Neves et al., 2011; Kreider et al., 2003)]. These studies consistently showed that creatine use at standard doses does not impair kidney filtration or increase long-term kidney disease risk.

Despite this, misinformation persisted. That’s why Naeini and colleagues decided to analyze all the available human research between 2000 and 2025 to find out the truth once and for all.

What the Study Revealed About Creatine and Kidney Function

The authors reviewed 21 human studies on creatine and kidney function. Twelve of these studies, involving 177 participants taking creatine and 263 controls, were included in the final meta-analysis.

Here’s what they found:

Serum creatinine: There was a small but statistically significant increase. This rise is minor and temporary.

Short-term (less than one week): Slight increase in creatinine.

Medium-term (1–12 weeks): No significant change.

Long-term (more than 12 weeks): A small rise again, likely due to higher muscle creatine turnover.

Glomerular filtration rate (GFR): No significant changes compared to placebo.

In simple terms, while creatine can raise blood creatinine levels, it doesn’t affect how well your kidneys actually work. Across all studies, GFR—a direct measure of kidney filtration—remained within the normal range. This means that for healthy adults, creatine use does not impair kidney function or raise kidney disease risk.

However, it’s important to note that the included studies were generally short- to medium-term (up to several months), and mostly involved healthy participants. More long-term data in people with pre-existing kidney disease are still needed.

Interpreting the Long-Term Creatine Effect on Kidneys

So what’s really going on here? When you supplement with creatine, your body naturally converts some of it into creatinine. That’s why blood tests show slightly higher creatinine levels. But this doesn’t mean your kidneys are struggling—it just means there’s more creatine in your system being metabolized.

The authors explain that relying only on blood creatinine to measure kidney function in people taking creatine can be misleading. The best way to assess kidney health is with GFR, which measures the actual filtering ability of the kidneys [(Stevens et al., 2006; Inker et al., 2012)]. And in this meta-analysis, GFR remained stable, confirming that kidney function was preserved.

The role of creatine monohydrate in exercise supplementation is heavily debated, particularly concerning its potential effects on kidney health. However, a critical examination of the existing literature suggests that under normal conditions, creatine monohydrate does not cause kidney damage in healthy individuals (Taner et al., 2010; Ostojić, 2021; Kim et al., 2011). Numerous studies support the safety of creatine monohydrate supplementation at recommended dosages, showing that kidney function remains stable even during long-term use.

The study also addressed possible differences in how creatinine was measured across research. Some older methods, like the Jaffe test, could be slightly affected by creatine itself, giving the illusion of higher levels. Modern lab methods are more accurate and confirm that creatine supplementation doesn’t harm the kidneys.

Other Considerations

Recent reviews by Post et al. (2019) have even suggested that creatine may play a beneficial role in people with chronic kidney disease by helping offset reduced natural creatine synthesis. A 2024 paper cited in the original article could not be verified and should be interpreted cautiously until indexed.

It’s worth noting that most included studies were relatively short. However, some observational research followed participants for several years—such as Mayhew et al. (2002), which tracked college football players for approximately 3.5 years—and still found no harm to kidney or liver health. This reinforces the evidence that creatine’s long-term effects on kidneys are minimal in healthy individuals.

Supporting studies by Taner et al. (2010) and Kim et al. (2011) further confirmed that even at higher doses, creatine supplementation did not cause significant alterations in glomerular filtration rate or other kidney biomarkers.

Overall, the research paints a consistent picture: creatine monohydrate, when taken at standard doses (3–5 grams per day, approximately 0.11–0.18 ounces), is safe for kidney function in healthy adults. Whether you’re an athlete or someone using creatine for health or cognitive benefits, your kidneys can handle it just fine.

Practical Applications: Using Creatine Safely While Managing Kidney Disease Risk

If you’re taking creatine, here’s what this means for you:

Creatine is safe. You can confidently use creatine monohydrate without worrying about kidney damage—as long as you’re following recommended doses.

A rise in creatinine isn’t dangerous. If you get a blood test after starting creatine and your creatinine levels go up a little, don’t panic. It’s a normal effect of supplementation, not a sign of kidney trouble.

Stay hydrated. Creatine helps your muscles store more water. Make sure you’re drinking enough fluids to support that process.

Use reputable products. Choose pure creatine monohydrate from trusted brands. Avoid “proprietary blends” that may include unnecessary additives.

If you have pre-existing kidney disease, talk to your doctor. While the evidence shows creatine is safe for healthy people, anyone with chronic kidney issues should consult a healthcare professional before taking supplements.

These steps ensure you can enjoy the benefits of creatine while keeping your kidneys healthy and minimizing creatine and kidney disease risk.

The Final Word on Creatine and Kidney Disease Risk

The long-standing myth that creatine causes kidney damage is strongly challenged by modern evidence. The 2025 BMC Nephrology meta-analysis found only a small, harmless increase in blood creatinine without any effect on kidney filtration.

For healthy adults using standard doses, creatine monohydrate is considered safe and effective. While more research is needed in people with kidney disease and with long-term high-dose use, the evidence overwhelmingly supports creatine’s renal safety profile in healthy individuals.

So, if you’ve been avoiding creatine due to outdated fears, rest easy—your kidneys are likely fine. You can enjoy the strength, endurance, and potential cognitive benefits of one of the most researched supplements on the planet.

References

Naeini, E. K., Eskandari, M., Mortazavi, M., Gholaminejad, A., & Karevan, N. (2025). Effect of creatine supplementation on kidney function: A systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Nephrology, 26(622). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12882-025-04558-6

Taner, C., Aysim, O., & Abdulkadir, U. (2010). The effects of the recommended dose of creatine monohydrate on kidney function. Clinical Kidney Journal, 4(1), 23–24.

Ostojić, S. (2021). Dietary creatine and kidney function in adult population: NHANES 2017–2018. Food Science & Nutrition, 9(4), 2257–2259.

Kim, H., Kim, C., Carpentier, A., & Poortmans, J. (2011). Studies on the safety of creatine supplementation. Amino Acids, 40(5), 1409–1418.

Post, A., Tsikas, D., & Bakker, S. (2019). Creatine is a conditionally essential nutrient in chronic kidney disease: A hypothesis and narrative literature review. Nutrients, 11(5), 1044.

Post, A., Groothof, D., Kremer, D., Knobbe, T., Abma, W., Koops, C., … & Bakker, S. (2024). Creatine homeostasis and the kidney: comparison between kidney transplant recipients and healthy controls. Amino Acids, 56(1).

Filler, G., Maung, E., Ferris, M., Chan, N., & Sharma, A. (2025). Acute kidney injury with cast nephropathy following creatine loading in a 17-year-old: a pediatric case report.