Thanks! My MD wants me to visit a nephrologist. The BUN and creatinine levels can be affected by many things, including certain medications and various illnesses. . My BUN was slightly high at 28 (the range is 7-25), but my creatinine is normal. If the result is higher than the numbers mentioned, it indicates that there is a high level of BUN in the blood. they have questioned me severly about use of steroids and supplements which I told them I do not use steriods but I do take supplements but not on a daily basis only when i work out. Alcohol blocks the production of urea (BUN) [, Avoiding creatine and creatine-based supplements, Increasing dietary fiber. This test gives better information than a blood creatinine test on how well your kidneys are working. DO NOT SHAKE. and BUN are normal you do not need to worry about the ratio. Example, if you have a creatinine level of 3 mg, your BUN will be 60 mg/dL. Either test can be run on a blood sample or urine sample. Your doctor will work to find an accurate diagnosis and an appropriate treatment plan, which may include some of the strategies below. Advanced liver diseases (the liver cannot produce enough urea), Not consuming creatinine and creatine-based food. People who develop chronic kidney disease may have some or all of the following tests and measurements. In the US the urea is expressed as BUN (Blood Urea Nitrogen) in mg/dL. The causes shown here are commonly associated with low BUN/creatinine. The muscle mass of a person defines the rate of creatinine formation. You must consult your doctor before acting on any content on this website, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a medical condition. Urea Creatinine Ratio Ranges. ABN Requirement: No Includes: Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN), Serum Creatinine, BUN/Creatinine Ratio, Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR) Specimen: Serum Volume : 1.0 mL Minimum Volume : 0.5 mL Container: Gel-barrier tube (SST, Tiger Top) Collection: Collect and label sample according to standard protocols. Both BUN and creatinine are filtered in the kidneys and excreted through urination and they are a perfect parameter for identifying the overall functions of the kidneys. I also have very strong muscle cramps, sometimes in the groin area and some times the calf. That is why blood levels are usually a good indicator of how well your kidneys are working [3, 4, 5]. Some will need a kidney transplant. On normal diet = 12 to 16; Optimum adult level = 15.5; Ratio is maintained when BUN and creatinine are raised: This is suggestive of renal diseases like: Intrarenal glomerulonephritis. During a metabolic workup, what does a high bun/creatinine ratio reading mean? Phosphorus: A high phosphorus level can lead to weak bones. Creatinine is 75 / 88.4 = 0.85 mg/dL And BCR is 14 / 0.85 = 16 All numerical values for the urea: creatinine ratio in this article will be BCR, not UCR values unless specifically stated. The ratio of BUN to creatinine is usually between 10:1 and 20:1. General reference ranges for a normal BUN level are as follows: Adults up to 60 years of age: 6-20 mg/dL. I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. my BUN is normal and my creatinine level was 7.6 when i was admitted to the hospital. BUN (blood urea nitrogen) and creatinine are two lab tests that are often ordered as part of a comprehensive metabolic panel. A high BUN and creatinine ratio could indicate a possible kidney-related problem. Creatinine is a product of creatinine phosphate breakdown in muscles . Creatinine is removed from the body by the kidneys. MedicineNet does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. To check for normal or abnormal kidney function; . If your cholesterol level is too high, your doctor may ask you to make some changes in your diet and increase your activity level. When a kidney infection is responsible for high creatinine levels, treatment with an antibiotic should return them to normal. So look at the BUN and creatinine as a ratio: normal would look like 12/ 1.0, right? We do not aim to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any illness or disease. Container: Gel-barrier tube (SST, Tiger Top). Whether you need to change the amount of high- potassium foods in your diet depends on your stage of kidney disease. However, this improvement seems to be largely transient, and RD, in the setting of an elevated BUN/Cr, All of our content is written by scientists and people with a strong science background. Potassium: Potassium is a mineral in your blood that helps your heart and muscles work properly. A plus sign next to the number [1+, 2+, etc] means that the information is found within the full scientific study rather than the abstract. The result can also be affected by pregnancy. I don't really take much besides magnesium and Vitamin D3. Ask your doctor what your calcium level should be. Our doctors define difficult medical language in easy-to-understand explanations of over 19,000 medical terms. Your story may be the one that gives someone hope. Cardiorenal syndrome: Prognosis and treatment. A creatinine clearance test measures how well creatinine is removed from your blood by your kidneys. BUN concentration is also strongly affected by changes in catabolism and protein intake. BUN Creatinine Ratio BUN Creatinine Ratio can help a physician to decide what has caused your renal failure or if you have renal failure at all. In the presence of decreased intravascular effective volume, BUN increase is not proportional to the rise in serum creatinine level and the fall in GFR. For potential or actual medical emergencies, immediately call 911 or your local emergency service. 2.5 - 10.7 mmol/L. Triglyceride: Triglyceride is a type of fat found in your blood. For this reason, males tend to have higher creatinine levels than females. Thanks, I've read as much ( Though the part about being meaningless if the levels themselves are normal wasn't mentioned in the articles ) but couldn't figure out what's going on as I imagined that if both levels are perfectly in the middle of the range, then their ratio must be completely within normal limits as well. Tubulointerstitial nephritis. The normal adult range is 6 to 25, with 15.5 being the optimal value. Dr. Charles Gordon answered Specializes in Adolescent Medicine Tests, tests, tests: Tests results always have to be interpreted in a context. However, if the ratios are too high or too low, it could signal that there is something wrong in your kidneys and liver. Causes of high BUN to creatinine levels include: Causes of low BUN to creatinine levels include: 1996-2022 MedicineNet, Inc. All rights reserved. The value is > 15:1 seen in dehydration and hypotension. A high protein intake may cause an abnormally high level of BUN. HealthTap uses cookies to enhance your site experience and for analytics and advertising purposes. I am having alot of muscle pain and my doctor seems to think i should have any pain in muscles. It may be estimated from your blood level of creatinine. Note that each number in parentheses [1, 2, 3, etc.] To maintain a normal BUN: Cr ratio you may have to take medication or to alter your diet. I'm 65 inches & weigh 165. This urine test helps your provider diagnose kidney disease and monitor conditions that can damage kidneys. What does that mean? Growing up, he suffered from inflammation, brain fog, fatigue, digestive problems, insomnia, anxiety, and other issues that were poorly understood in traditional healthcare. Joe Cohen flipped the script on conventional and alternative medicineand it worked. Elsewhere Urea (U) is expressed as mmol/L Your email address will not be published. I have been suffering from Kidney stone problem since a long time and st Im also in the same boat 36 year male, creatinine of 1.54 but my BUN is 13. SelfDecode has the strictest sourcing guidelines in the health industry and we almost exclusively link to medically peer-reviewed studies, usually on PubMed. In patients with acute GI bleeding, a BUN:creatinine ratio of 36 or greater suggests an upper GI bleeding site. Your kidneys are your body's clearinghouse for toxins. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. The . Usually, BUN is removed by your kidneys. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. In normal dogs, BUN levels are rarely higher than 25 to 30 mg/dL. Elderly individuals have a . Your physician has ordered a creatinine clearance. You might be a vegan bodybuilder. Low values Low blood creatinine levels can mean lower muscle mass caused by a disease, such as muscular dystrophy, or by aging. of muscles foods. BUN/Creatinine ratio increases with age, and with decreasing muscle mass [ 6 ]. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Fatigue, loss of So the BUN is 19.00 the Creatinine is 0.72 which makes a ratio BUN/Creatinine 26.39. A creatinine that shows more than 1.2 mg will equate to a BUN that's thrice as much. Whats your current level. What causes high levels of creatinine in urine? Your kidneys help filter all the waste products your body builds up in its natural processes. is a clickable link to peer-reviewed scientific studies. SelfDecode does not treat, diagnose or cure any conditions, We offer this Site AS IS and without any warranties. Creatinine is removed from the body by the kidneys, which filter almost all of it from the blood into the urine, at a fairly constant rate. I'm naturally more muscular (always have been), but my creatinine is 1.98, which is considerably too high. Creatinine levels of 2.0 or more in infants and 5.0 or more in adults may indicate severe kidney damage. Low BUN/Creatinine Ratio A low BUN/Creatinine ratio indicates an underlying disease/disorder and will usually be accompanied by the symptoms of this underlying disorder. For the adult female, with her generally lower muscle mass, the normal range is 0.5 to 1.1 mg/dl, or 44 to 97 mol/L by the enzymatic method. Your doctor will recommend iron supplements when needed to reach your target levels. BUN is not a reliable index of GFR. SI units. A creatinine is a molecule produced by muscle metabolism. The doctor who ordered these tests would be in a better position to advise as s/he knows your health status. Looking at how much creatinine is in your blood is not the best way to check your kidney health. It is normally removed from your blood by your kidneys, but when kidney function slows down, the creatinine level rises. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) level is another indicator of kidney function. Ask your doctor what your potassium level should be. Our team comprises of trained MDs, PhDs, pharmacists, qualified scientists, and certified health and wellness specialists. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. Having said that, if both creatinine and BUN are normal you do not need to worry about the ratio. Values over 20 typically suggest prerenal causes, whereas those below 10 may imply an intrinsic renal cause. The ideal ratio is between 10:1 and 20:1. This is referred to as renal azotemia. What causes abnormal BUN creatinine levels? The only purpose of the kidneys is to filter blood. However, an elevated total protein level (8.2 g/dL) and lowering of the BUN and sCr ratio from 14.5 to 2. . I take magnesium and Co Q10 every day. Work with your doctor or other health care professional for an accurate diagnosis. Something like BUN of 70 with a creatinine of 1. Protein-to-Creatinine Ratio: This estimates the amount of protein you excrete in your urine in a day and avoids the need to collect a 24-hour sample of your urine. Recently I've had a blood test as part of a fatigue investigation and got the following values: Creatinine 0.82 mg/dl, range 0.67-1.17 mg/dl Urea 25 mg/dl, range 17-43 mg/dl. Adults over 60 years of age: 8-23 mg/dL. The kidneys are responsible for keeping the level of creatinine in the blood within a normal range. The ideal ratio of BUN to creatinine falls between 10-to-1 and 20-to-1. Frustrated by the lack of good information and tools, Joe decided to embark on a learning journey to decode his DNA and track his biomarkers in search of better health. In summary, a high BUN-Creatinine ratio - more than 20 and the person has a normal creatinine, usually indicates dehydration. BUN/Creatinine Ratio Understand (High vs. Low Levels, Normal Range), Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate ( eGFR) Test & Calculators, Glycolysis Pathway - Definition and Summary, Diagnose kidney-related diseases such as acute and/or chronic renal disease and urinary tract blockages, Monitor the effectiveness of the treatments related to kidney problems, It helps in diagnosing gastrointestinal bleeding, It is useful in diagnosing severe dehydration (causes the BUN level to rise). A normal serum creatinine value is 0.5-1.2 mg/dl. If this is the case, try to increase your consumption of high-protein foods like lean meats and beans [, Reducing alcohol consumption. and 97 to 137 mL/min. MedicineNet does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Takes a few moments to get started after sitting for awhwile. Elevated creatine, but normal BUN? Two laboratory blood tests that measure kidney function are creatinine and blood urea nitrogen, or BUN. It is used by the doctor in formulating an accurate diagnosis of health problems that have something to do with the kidneys. For overall healthy kidney ensure that you keep your cholesterol, sodium, potassium, and protein in check. Renal biopsy could not identify the etiology of the elevating sCr. The typical reference range for serum creatinine is 60 to 110 micromoles per liter (mol/L) (0.7 . Ask your dietitian how to get the right amount of protein and calories from your diet. The BUN/creatinine ratio is a good measurement of kidney and liver function. Our science team must pass long technical science tests, difficult logical reasoning and reading comprehension tests. BUN (blood urea nitrogen) and creatinine are two blood tests that can reveal a lot about your metabolism, kidney, liver, and overall health. 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