Not sure what forum this belongs is (blood levels) - Anabolic Steroids

Onerepmaximum · #1 (**permalink**) 05-02-2006, 03:58 AM

I am a non-insulin dependant diabetic. I have been going to the doctor alot lately because I went one time and my blood pressure was high. I later came to find out that they were using the regular sized cuff which is not big enough. When the proper sized cuff is used, my blood pressure is normal. Well my "elevated" elevated blood pressure caused them to do a battery of blood tests. It came back that my cholesterol is 130. They want it to be 100 or less since I'm a diabetic. That's fine.

The other value that they are concerned about is my creatinine level. Mine is at 1.1, the upper limit for normal is 1.5. When the blood was drawn, I had just completed a 4 week cycle of creatine. I just saw the doctor today. He told me that creatine supplementation won't affect creatinine levels and that I have lost 15% of my kidney function(that's the reason for my elevated creatinine level). I have looked online and this appears to be bullshit, too. Creatinine is a by product of creatine. So my elevated creatinine levels are most likely not a result of kidney damage, but a result of my creatine cycle.

He said there is also a very small amount of protein in my urine. I'm not sure what this means yet, but I'm looking into it.

My question is, where can I get info to take to my next appointment that is based on reputable research that I can show this dude? He is trying to scare me, he even said that he hoped he is scaring me. I don't think I need to be scared though. I think if he wasn't fat and nasty, he would not be so closed minded about creatine or supplements in general.

Twistdenigma · #2 (**permalink**) 05-02-2006, 04:57 AM

Pubmed is where I find most of my information.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Onerepmaximum

I am a non-insulin dependant diabetic. I have been going to the doctor alot lately because I went one time and my blood pressure was high. I later came to find out that they were using the regular sized cuff which is not big enough. When the proper sized cuff is used, my blood pressure is normal. Well my "elevated" elevated blood pressure caused them to do a battery of blood tests. It came back that my cholesterol is 130. They want it to be 100 or less since I'm a diabetic. That's fine.

The other value that they are concerned about is my creatinine level. Mine is at 1.1, the upper limit for normal is 1.5. When the blood was drawn, I had just completed a 4 week cycle of creatine. I just saw the doctor today. He told me that creatine supplementation won't affect creatinine levels and that I have lost 15% of my kidney function(that's the reason for my elevated creatinine level). I have looked online and this appears to be bullshit, too. Creatinine is a by product of creatine. So my elevated creatinine levels are most likely not a result of kidney damage, but a result of my creatine cycle.

He said there is also a very small amount of protein in my urine. I'm not sure what this means yet, but I'm looking into it.

My question is, where can I get info to take to my next appointment that is based on reputable research that I can show this dude? He is trying to scare me, he even said that he hoped he is scaring me. I don't think I need to be scared though. I think if he wasn't fat and nasty, he would not be so closed minded about creatine or supplements in general.

Puddles · #3 (**permalink**) 05-02-2006, 08:58 AM

Is there a reason you don't want to look for another doctor?

After my last doctor put me on anti-depressants because I got teary eyed when I started talking about my problems, we found a family practice that includes HRT as a large part of their treatment for some of their patients (hubby included). The two main doctors are HEALTHY. They train and understand us. When my bp and cholesterol levels came back high the dr. went over my diet and exercise and suggested a particular multi to help fix the cholesterol. They're also affiliated with a compounding pharmacy.

Voodoo · #4 (**permalink**) 05-02-2006, 11:00 AM

I agree about a second opinion. Especially if he admitted he was trying to scare you. I understand that they would be concerned with your levels since you are diabetical and stuff.... but, I don't think a "scare tactic" is the way to go about making sure your levels are safe.

Yung Wun · #5 (**permalink**) 05-02-2006, 01:03 PM

ur doctors whack, elevated creatinine levels in the blood is a result of creatine supplementation, especially if you had just loaded (although elevated levels do mean kidney probs, u just loaded). One study that was done in 2000, found it did have no effect on plasma levels, but that study did not involve any physical activity, so you can 86 that study.

latest study in 04 done in good Ol Canada!!

111: Muscle Nerve. 2004 Jan;29(1):51-8.

Creatine monohydrate supplementation does not increase muscle strength, lean body mass, or muscle phosphocreatine in patients with myotonic dystrophy type 1.

Tarnopolsky M, Mahoney D, Thompson T, Naylor H, Doherty TJ.

Department of Medicine (Neurology and Rehabilitation), McMaster University,
Hamilton, Canada. tarnopol@mcmaster.ca

Creatine monohydrate (CrM) supplementation may increase strength in some typesof muscular dystrophy. A recent study in myotonic muscular dystrophy type 1(DM1) did not find a significant treatment effect, but measurements of muscle phosphocreatine (PCr) were not performed. We completed a randomized,double-blind, cross-over trial using 34 genetically confirmed adult DM1 patients without significant cognitive impairment. Participants received CrM (5 g,approximately 0.074 g/kg daily) and a placebo for each 4-month phase with a 6-week wash-out. Spirometry, manual muscle testing, quantitative isometric strength testing of handgrip, foot dorsiflexion, and knee extension, handgrip and foot dorsiflexion endurance, functional tasks, activity of daily living scales, body composition (total, bone, and fat-free mass), serum creatine kinase activity, serum creatinine concentration and clearance, and liver function tests were completed before and after each intervention, and muscle PCr/beta-adenosine triphosphate (ATP) ratios of the forearm flexor muscles were completed at the end of each phase. CrM supplementation did not increase any of the outcome measurements except for plasma creatinine concentration (but not creatinine clearance). Thus, CrM supplementation at 5 g daily does not have any effects on muscle strength, body composition, or activities of daily living in patients with DM1, perhaps because of a failure of the supplementation to increase muscle PCr/beta-ATP content.

Publication Types:
Clinical Trial
Randomized Controlled Trial

PMID: 14694498 [PubMed]

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Acute creatine ingestion in human: consequences on serum creatine and creatinine concentrations.

Schedel JM, Tanaka H, Kiyonaga A, Shindo M, Schutz Y.

Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Lausanne University, Switzerland. Jean-Marc.Schedel@iphysiol.unil.ch

The aim of the study was to explore the effect of an acute dose of creatine (Cr) ingestion on serum Cr and serum creatinine (Crn) concentrations. Sixteen healthy subjects ingested a single dose of Cr (20 g) followed by the measurement of serum Cr and Crn concentration for 3 h up to a maximum of 6 h (n=6). In response to Cr ingestion a large rise in serum Cr concentration was observed (by 50 folds) occurring approximately 2 1/2h after the ingestion (peak value of 2.17 +/- 0.66 mmol x l(-1)). We also found a moderate but significant rise in serum Crn concentration averaging 13 % after 3 h (peak value at 99.5 +/- 10.5 micromol x l(-1)). A dose response curve obtained in two case studies, in whom different doses of Cr were ingested (0, 2.5, 5, 10, 15, 20 g and 0, 10, 20, 30 g), showed that serum Cr concentration as well as the peak time increased linearly with Cr ingestion. In addition, acute Crn ingestion (5 g) resulted in a substantial increase in serum Crn concentration (by 10 folds) but led to a minor rise in serum Cr concentration (by 2 folds). These results suggest that when acute doses of Cr are ingested in humans, the degree of conversion of exogenous Cr to Crn in the stomach and the gut can be considered as negligible following the first 6 h of ingestion. However, further studies are required to explore the prolonged effect of Cr on Crn metabolism.

PMID: 10622230 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]