Difference between Creatine and Creatinine

What is Creatine & Creatinine?

Both Creatine and Creatinine are two proteins found in the blood in the body. Both Creatine and creatine are in homeostasis, in human bodies. They are obtained from proteins and that is why the levels of creatinine and creatine are greater in meat. Hence, these levels are higher in people who eat meat as compared to people who are vegetarian.

What is Creatine?

Creatine is a substance which is naturally present in vertebrates. Creatine is an amino acid stored mostly in the body’s muscles and the brain. Though creatine can be created synthetically, it is mostly derived from seafood and red meat. It is made in liver, pancreas and kidneys and it is a nitrogenous substance and possesses a carboxylic group to it. Creatine is produced from glycine, L-arginine, and L-methionine amino acids.

People consume creatine orally to treat brain disorders and conditions, heart diseases and other neurological issues. Topical creatine is used to treat ageing skin.

Creatine also treats; depression, fibromyalgia, idiopathic inflammatory myopathies, muscle atrophy and cramps, head trauma, diabetes, schizophrenia, muscle breakdown in the spine, Rett syndrome, gyrate atrophy (eye disease), Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, breathing problems in infants during sleeping, and recovery from surgery.

What is Creatinine?

Creatinine is a chemical waste product formed by the breakdown of creatine in muscle cells. The production of creatine phosphate depends on the muscle mass of an individual and is eliminated from the body through kidneys. It is transported into the kidney and through the bloodstream and filtered and excreted from the body in urine. The creatinine levels in men is higher in men as compared to women. This is because men possess more skeletal muscles than women.

Blood and urine creatinine levels are assessed to calculate the creatinine clearance and exhibit the glomerular filtration rate. Malfunctioning and damage of kidneys If the kidneys are severely damaged and malfunctioning, creatinine dispensation rate will indicate that. Low levels of creatinine indicate Muscle atrophy, sedentary lifestyle, malnutrition / debility and multiple sclerosis.

Some benefits of creatinine clearance are;

• It does not require I.V administration
• It can be easily estimated
• It is a normal metabolite of the body
• In early stages, it has got advantage over S. Creatinine.

Difference between Creatine & Creatinine

Definition

Creatine

Creatine is an amino acid produced naturally in the human body by the kidney, liver and pancreas. 

Creatinine

It is a biological waste product that is produced by muscles by the breakdown of a compound called creatine.

Molecular formulae and scientific name

Creatine

Molecular formula – The chemical formula for creatine is C₄H₉N₃O₂

Scientific name – 2- (carboximidoyl-methyl- amino) acetic acid.

Creatinine

Molecular formulae – The chemical formula for creatinine is C₄H₇N₃O

Scientific name – 2-amino-1-methyl-5h-imidazol-4-one

Significance

Creatine

Creatine is very important for the body. It is an organic acid. It is a natural compound created in the body and is obtained from the diet through meat products. It helps the muscle tissues generate more energy, speeds up growth of muscles, helps combat neurological and Parkinson’s diseases, reduce diabetes and improves high-intensity exercise performance. It is used as a dietary supplement meant for improving athletic performance and muscle strength.

Creatinine

Creatinine does not perform any vital function in the body. It is not an organic acid. However, Creatinine levels in the blood can help your doctor assess how well your kidneys are working. The test helps to diagnose certain diseases and to check for any issues and conditions with your kidney function.

If the kidneys are not performing as they should, however, creatinine levels in blood can elevate. When tests report that amount of this compound is very high, a doctor usually carries out additional testing to ascertain the extent of the issues with a person’s kidneys.

Purpose

Creatine

It is stored in the muscles and increases the muscle mass.

Creatinine

Creatinine production reduces the muscle mass.

Side effects

Creatine

High levels of creatine can cause;

• Nausea
• Diarrhoea
• Muscle cramping
• Stomach pain
• Irregular heartbeat in some people

Creatinine

High levels of creatinine can cause;

• Possible malfunction or failure of the kidneys
• Swelling or oedema
• Confusion
• Nausea and vomiting
• Shortness of breath
• Fatigue
• Dehydration

Structure

Creatine

Creatine has a linear molecule.

Creatinine

Creatinine has a heterocyclic structure.

Molar Mass

Creatine

The molar mass of creatine is 131.13 g/mol.

Creatinine

The molar mass of creatinine is 113.12 g/mol.

Summary of Creatine Vs. Creatinine: Tabular Form

The points of difference between Creatine and Creatinine have been summarized below:

Sharing is caring!