What’s the difference between creatine and creatinine?
Is creatinine and creatine the same?
No, creatinine and creatine are not the same. Whilst both are related to muscle metabolism, creatine is an amino acid derivative that serves as an energy reserve; and is used as it may enhance athletic performance.
Whereas, creatinine, on the other hand, is a waste product formed during the breakdown of creatine and muscle tissue. It serves as a marker for kidney function but has no beneficial role in the body.
Creatine
Creatine is a compound found naturally in human and animal muscle, composed of the amino acids L-arginine, glycine, and methionine.
Your kidneys and liver produce creatine, and you can also absorb it from foods like red meat, fish, and eggs. Your body stores this creatine in your muscles to help produce energy.
Creatine supplements are popular among athletes and gym-goers because they may have muscle-building and performance-enhancing benefits.
Creatinine
Creatinine is a waste product found in the blood that comes from the breakdown of creatine.
In other words, when your muscles create energy from stored creatine, they produce creatinine.
Since the body makes creatinine at a fairly consistent rate, the level of creatinine in the blood is a reliable marker for assessing kidney function.
This is why doctors check blood creatinine levels when screening for chronic kidney disease (CKD).
