Kidney stones are painful crystals that form in the urinary tract. They affects nearly 3 million people a year in the U.S., according to the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse, or NKUDIC. Since it became popular as a supplement to aid muscle development, creatine has had a reputation of causing kidney problems, including stones. However, creatine does not have a direct effect on kidney stone development in the body, according to research by the NKUDIC and University of Maryland Medical Center. Creatine’s not right for everyone. Consult your doctor before trying it.
Kidney Stones
Kidney stones are formed most commonly from a combination of calcium and either phosphate or oxalate. These minerals are consumed in the normal human diet. Less common types of stones, called struvite or infection stones, are caused by urinary tract infections. Rate kidney stones include uric acid and cysteine stones. The NKUDIC mentions that kidney stones occur for several reasons but doesn’t mention creatine supplementation is one of them. People at an increased risk of developing kidney stones include those with a family history of it, people with kidney disorders and certain metabolic disorders.
Creatine
Meat and fish contain levels of dietary creatine. The liver, kidneys and pancreas also produce the amino acid. Most of the creatine in your body is stored in your muscle tissue with the primary purpose of providing your muscle with energy during strenuous exercise. Creatine supplements enter your body, and the kidneys filter it before if reaches your muscle tissue. The theory is that creatine causes the formation of crystals when waste filters out of the kidneys. There’s no evidence that this occurs in healthy individuals.
Indirect Effect
One of the effects of creatine supplementation is water retention, which potentially leads to dehydration if you don’t consume more water than normal during supplementation. This may indirectly increase your risk of kidney stones if you are already at a higher risk of developing them. According to the NKUDIC, drinking more water is the first and most basic treatment method for anyone who’s had a kidney stone in the past. Creatine supplementation also requires an increased amount of fluid intake each day. Consuming too little water while taking creatine supplements may indirectly effect the formation of kidney stones in individuals already prone to the condition.
Safety/Risks
The UMMC states that few if any side effects are associated with creatine supplementation when taken for no more than six months at a time. However, people with any sort of kidney disorder should avoid creatine supplements. One of the side effects of creatine supplementation is kidney damage, which is more likely in those with impaired kidney function. Consult your doctor to get a simple urine test, which will show her whether your kidneys are healthy enough to support creatine supplements.
