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Effect of creatine supplementation on kidney function: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Elham Kabiri Naeini, Milad Eskandari, Mojgan Mortazavi, Alieh Gholaminejad, Negar Karevan
BMC Nephrol 2025 26(1):622

Bibliography

PubMed
PMID 41199218
DOI
10.1186/s12882-025-04558-6
Funding
The authors reported no funding for this study.
Competing interests
Authors declared no competing interests.

Study snapshot

DesignSystematic review and meta-analysis
ModelHuman
Sample21 studies in systematic review; 12 in serum-creatinine meta-analysis
InterventionCreatine supplementation versus control
DurationStudies from short term to >12 weeks
EndpointsSerum creatinine; GFR

What the study showed, in plain terms

Independent meta-analysis focused on the common concern that creatine's effect on serum creatinine may be mistaken for renal injury.

Key findings

Creatine produced a modest rise in serum creatinine but no significant overall difference in GFR, supporting preserved kidney function in the studied settings.

What this study can and cannot tell us

Relatively small meta-analyzed sample and variable follow-up; long-term renal safety beyond one year remains under-studied.

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Dr. Khaled Mahmoud, MBBChCritical Care Medicine, Longevity Science & Editorial Direction Dr. Amr Yasser, PhDCardiometabolic, Musculoskeletal, Gut & Bioavailability Dr. Abdulla Mostafa, PhDCellular Senescence, Neurological, Mitochondrial & Brain-Ageing Biology