THE IMPACT OF CREATINE SUPPLEMENTATION AND HIGH-PROTEIN DIET ON KIDNEY FUNCTION IN PHYSICALLY ACTIVE INDIVIDUALS: A NARRATIVE REVIEW

Laura Stochaj; Julia Sochowska; Urszula Kacprzak; Michał Gliński; Michalina Flejszman; Dominika Dołęga-Mostowska; Julia Danieluk; Agnieszka Buczkowska; Natalia Adamaszek; Justyna Wójcik

doi:10.31435/ijitss.3(51).2026.5920

Authors

Laura Stochaj Provincial Hospital in Poznań, Poznań, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0004-0795-2992
Julia Sochowska Clinical Hospital of Poznań University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0001-9484-6634
Urszula Kacprzak Clinical Hospital of Poznań University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0008-2380-3187
Michał Gliński Clinical Hospital of Poznań University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0003-1422-6940
Michalina Flejszman Poznań University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0007-9936-6975
Dominika Dołęga-Mostowska Medical University of Lodz, Łódź, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0003-5448-9956
Julia Danieluk Clinical Hospital of Poznań University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0000-1513-6814
Agnieszka Buczkowska Clinical Hospital of Poznań University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0009-3488-2949
Natalia Adamaszek Clinical Hospital of Poznań University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0007-7839-1581
Justyna Wójcik Clinical Hospital of Poznań University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0007-2270-5027

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31435/ijitss.3(51).2026.5920

Keywords:

Creatine, High-Protein Diet, Renal Function, Athletes, Kidney Health

Abstract

The safety of high-protein diets (HPD) and creatine supplementation remains a central topic of debate between the sports nutrition and nephrology communities. While athletes utilize these strategies to optimize body composition and performance, concerns regarding renal health, specifically glomerular hyperfiltration and the interpretation of creatinine-based biomarkers, persist. This narrative review synthesizes evidence from randomized controlled trials, systematic reviews and meta-analyses, observational studies, mechanistic studies, and clinical guidelines. Current evidence suggests that in healthy, physically active individuals, neither creatine supplementation at recommended doses nor high protein diet (up to 3.4 g/kg/d) negatively affect renal function. However, the interpretation of serum creatinine in active populations is often harder to interpret accurately by higher muscle metabolism and creatine supplementation. While nephrology literature highlights potential risks of high protein diet in individuals with pre-existing chronic kidney disease, these findings may not be directly generalizable to the healthy population. Studies regarding both creatine supplementation and HPD in healthy individuals at the same time are limited and need further research.

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