Doctor warns against creatine use before blood tests due to misleading results

Dr. Karan Raj warns that taking creatine supplements can lead to misleading blood test results, particularly affecting kidney function readings. High creatinine levels, a waste product linked to creatine, can falsely indicate kidney issues. In his experience, Dr. Raj found elevated creatinine levels after using creatine, which impacted his estimated glomerular filtration rate. He stopped taking the supplement for a week, and his levels returned to normal. Creatine can remain in the body for six to eight weeks, potentially skewing test results. Dr. Raj advises informing doctors about creatine use to ensure accurate kidney function assessments.