Thread: PWO creatine/protein question

Good question Cat. Let's see what's said I just read by LAM that you do need to drink your creatine drink as soon as you make it though do to it will become creatinine shortly after mixed.

Originally Posted by rock4832

Good question Cat. Let's see what's said I just read by LAM that you do need to drink your creatine drink as soon as you make it though do to it will become creatinine shortly after mixed.

what is creatinine? and what are the problems with it etc..

Creatinine is a protein produced by muscle and released into the blood. The amount produced is relatively stable in a given person. The creatinine level in the serum is therefore determined by the rate it is being removed, which is roughly a measure of kidney function. If kidney function falls (say a kidney is removed to donate to a relative), the creatinine level will rise. Normal is about 1 for an average adult. Infants that have little muscle will have lower normal levels (0.2). Muscle bound weight lifters may have a higher normal creatinine. Serum creatinine only reflects renal function in a steady state. After removing a kidney, if the donor's blood is checked right away the serum creatinine will still be 1. In the next day the creatinine will rise to a new steady state (usually about 1.8). If both kidneys were removed (say for cancer) the creatinine would continue to rise daily until dialysis is begun. How fast it rises depends on creatinine production, which is again related to how much muscle one has. A baby may need dialysis when the creatinine reaches 2, whereas a normal adult may be able to hold off until 10, or higher.

Creatinine clearance is technically the amount of blood that is "cleared" of creatinine per time period. It is usually expressed in ml per minute. Normal is 120 ml/min for an adult. It is roughly, inversely related to serum creatinine: If the clearance drops to one half of the old level, the serum creatinine doubles (in the steady state). So for an adult, serum creatinine of 2 is roughly a creatinine clearance of 60 ml/min; creatinine 3 is roughly a clearance of 30; creatinine of 4 is roughly a clearance of 15, etc. So why didn't the creatinine rise to only 2 when a kidney was removed? (I said it would rise to 1.8) The answer is that the remaining kidney "hyperfilters" and seems to work harder, therefore kidney function is not quite halved.

Creatine doesnt convert immediately. Creatinine is more likely found in solutions that are hours old. You are fine for AT LEAST an hour. No worries.

Creatine, when left in solution for a while, begins to convert to creatinine, which is useless in our body.

Personally I just put my creatine in my shaker and then fill it with water when I'm ready to down it. Haven't figured out whether to take it after lifting or after cardio yet though.