Kidney Damage, GFR?

Pharma
21

Did he suggest or do you know if coffee is hard on the kidneys?

22

If you eat a lot of protein, or have a lot of muscle mass, the crystatin c is a lot more reliable. Mine never looked good until I did that test. I have no signs of a bad kidney.

23

But then my question remains. Why do some guys living the same lifestyle donā€™t have this problems. I wouldnā€™t say I am an extremist when it comes to protein intake. For sure I donā€™t eat 1g per body weight.

We got guys who are over 200 pounds eating 2g per pound of body weight and they donā€™t have this problem. I wouldnā€™t say we represent the majority of muscular dudes who lift, most donā€™t have this elevated SCr, we are still the exception.

24

I am under 1g of protein per lb. I think the amount of muscle plays a big role, and not all the guys eating lots protein have that muscle yet.

How is your blood pressure? That can impact kidneys. How much caffeine do you use?

25

Systolic has been on the higher end for a decade or more now, more than 130. TRT has worsened it but I have went on a ARB and also now lowering my T dose. Caffeine I would say I may drink slightly higher than an average person, but nothing crazy with plenty of days of just 1 mug.

The thing is though thats my point, why do we have this problem but not every ripped up juice head weighing 220 pounds eating 300g of protein per day does? I drink plenty of water to the point I start peeing clear for most of the day, so I donā€™t think hydration is a problem.

26

Cos weā€™re all different, and some ppl are better suited to handle side effects than others.

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27

OK, but if kidneys are not the problem, then what does higher SCr mean for us who arenā€™t even professional body builders and eating modest protein at best? SCr comes from muscle breakdown. So if all else is equal within 2 individuals, is high SCr not a good sign? Forget kidneys, lets just say they are fine, doesnā€™t higher SCr show higher muscle break down from one individual compared to the other?

28

So is high GFR good? Mine is pretty good and i was happy that at least one of my organs are is good :smiley:

29

Well, not so fast. It goes like this:

  1. x amount of muscle produces x amount of creatinine

  2. a fraction of that gets secreted into the blood stream

  3. A constant flow of blood is provided to the kidneys (the eGFR)

  4. Creatinine is freely filtrated (not secreted and not reabsorbed)

  5. Your blood levels are what happens between muscle and kidneys.

If you have more muscle, you now produce more creatinine but since the amount of blood your kidneys get, the eGFR (4), doesnā€™t change, thereā€™s not more creatinine excreted. Ergo, your sCr is now higher than when you had lower muscle mass.

Your kidney function did not decrease, your blood flow to them did not change.

If you take creatine, it will also increase slightly.

1 Like
30

So back to the question then, why can someone be more muscular and be eating more protein than me and not have high SCrā€¦.

31

Lower creatinine production, more blood flow to the kidneys, lower creatine intake. Probably more. Just get a marker checked that gives you an accurate reading of the amount of blood your kidneys filter. I was asked every time I was at the hospital if Iā€™m doing a lot of sports, when I said yes, they didnā€™t ask any further questions.