What are the causes of low creatinine levels. How can low creatinine be diagnosed. What are the potential treatments for low creatinine. How does low creatinine differ from high creatinine. What role does creatinine play in assessing kidney function.

Understanding Creatinine: Function and Normal Levels

Creatinine is a chemical waste product that plays a crucial role in our body’s metabolism. It is produced as a result of normal muscle metabolism and is derived from creatine, an amino acid made by the liver. Understanding the function and normal levels of creatinine is essential for recognizing potential health issues.

How is creatinine processed in the body. The journey of creatinine begins in the liver, where it’s produced and stored. From there, it enters the bloodstream as muscle tissue breaks down. The kidneys then filter creatinine from the blood, and it is ultimately excreted through urine. This continuous process helps maintain a balance of creatinine in the body.

What are considered normal creatinine levels. Normal creatinine levels can vary depending on factors such as body size and muscle mass. For men, a typical range is between 0.6 and 1.2 mg/dl, while for women, it’s between 0.5 and 1.1 mg/dl. These ranges serve as general guidelines, but individual variations can occur.

Causes of Low Creatinine Levels

Low creatinine levels can be indicative of various underlying conditions or factors. Understanding these causes is crucial for proper diagnosis and treatment.

Muscle-Related Causes

• Muscular dystrophy and other muscle diseases
• Low muscle mass due to aging
• Malnutrition or low-protein diets

How do muscle-related issues affect creatinine levels. Since creatinine is a byproduct of muscle metabolism, conditions that affect muscle mass or function can lead to lower creatinine production. For instance, muscular dystrophy, characterized by progressive muscle weakness and loss, can result in decreased creatinine levels.

Liver-Related Causes

• Liver diseases affecting creatine production
• Impaired liver function

Why does liver health impact creatinine levels. The liver plays a vital role in producing creatine, which is the precursor to creatinine. When liver function is compromised, it can lead to reduced creatine production and, consequently, lower creatinine levels in the blood and urine.

Other Potential Causes

• Pregnancy
• Excessive water intake
• Certain medications

How can these factors influence creatinine levels. Pregnancy can cause increased blood volume and changes in kidney function, potentially leading to lower creatinine concentrations. Excessive water intake may dilute creatinine in the blood and urine. Some medications can also affect creatinine levels, either by altering kidney function or influencing muscle metabolism.

Symptoms Associated with Low Creatinine

The symptoms of low creatinine are often related to the underlying condition causing the decrease. Recognizing these symptoms can help in early detection and treatment.

Muscle-Related Symptoms

• Muscle weakness
• Muscle stiffness and pain
• Decreased mobility

How do these symptoms manifest. Individuals with low creatinine due to muscle diseases may experience progressive weakness, difficulty in performing everyday tasks, and reduced range of motion. These symptoms can significantly impact quality of life and daily functioning.

Liver-Related Symptoms

• Jaundice (yellowing of skin and eyes)
• Abdominal pain and swelling
• Pale, bloody, or tar-colored stools

What do these symptoms indicate. These signs often point to liver dysfunction, which can be the root cause of low creatinine levels. Jaundice results from the buildup of bilirubin, while abdominal issues and changes in stool color can indicate more severe liver problems.

Diagnosing Low Creatinine Levels

Accurate diagnosis of low creatinine levels involves various tests and assessments. Understanding these diagnostic procedures is crucial for proper evaluation and treatment.

Blood Tests

How is creatinine measured in blood. A serum creatinine test is commonly used to measure the amount of creatinine in the bloodstream. This test provides valuable information about kidney function and overall creatinine levels.

Urine Tests

What does a creatinine urine test reveal. A creatinine urine test measures the amount of creatinine excreted in urine over a specific period. This test can provide insights into kidney function and creatinine clearance rates.

Additional Diagnostic Procedures

• Muscle biopsy
• Muscle enzyme tests
• Liver function tests

Why are these additional tests necessary. If low creatinine levels are confirmed, further testing may be required to identify the underlying cause. Muscle biopsies and enzyme tests can help diagnose muscular diseases, while liver function tests can assess hepatic health.

Treatment Options for Low Creatinine

Treating low creatinine levels typically involves addressing the underlying cause. The approach can vary depending on the specific condition identified.

Lifestyle and Dietary Changes

• Increasing protein intake
• Regular exercise to build muscle mass
• Proper hydration

How can these changes help normalize creatinine levels. A balanced diet rich in protein can support muscle health and creatinine production. Regular exercise, particularly strength training, can help build and maintain muscle mass. Proper hydration is essential for overall health and can help maintain appropriate creatinine concentrations.

Medical Interventions

• Treatment for underlying muscle diseases
• Liver disease management
• Medication adjustments

What medical approaches may be necessary. For muscle diseases, treatments may include physical therapy, medication, or in some cases, surgical interventions. Liver disease management often involves lifestyle changes, medications, and in severe cases, liver transplantation. If medications are causing low creatinine, your healthcare provider may adjust dosages or switch to alternative treatments.

Comparing Low and High Creatinine Levels

Understanding the differences between low and high creatinine levels is crucial for proper health management. While both conditions can indicate underlying health issues, their causes and implications differ significantly.

Causes of High Creatinine

• Kidney damage or failure
• Kidney infections
• Reduced blood flow to the kidneys
• Dehydration

How do these factors lead to elevated creatinine. High creatinine levels often indicate impaired kidney function. When the kidneys are unable to filter creatinine effectively, it accumulates in the blood, leading to elevated levels.

Symptoms of High Creatinine

• Nausea and vomiting
• Fatigue
• Changes in urination patterns
• High blood pressure
• Chest pains
• Muscle cramps

What do these symptoms suggest. These symptoms are often associated with kidney dysfunction or other conditions that can cause high creatinine levels. They may indicate more severe health issues compared to low creatinine levels.

The Role of Creatinine in Assessing Kidney Function

Creatinine levels play a crucial role in evaluating kidney health and function. Understanding this relationship can help in early detection and management of kidney-related issues.

Creatinine as a Kidney Function Marker

Why is creatinine used to assess kidney function. Creatinine is an excellent indicator of kidney function because it’s produced at a relatively constant rate and is primarily filtered by the kidneys. Changes in creatinine levels can signal alterations in kidney function.

Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR)

How is GFR related to creatinine levels. The Glomerular Filtration Rate, which measures how well the kidneys filter blood, is often estimated using creatinine levels. A decrease in GFR usually corresponds with an increase in serum creatinine, indicating potential kidney problems.

Monitoring Kidney Health

What role does regular creatinine testing play in kidney health. Regular monitoring of creatinine levels can help detect early signs of kidney dysfunction, allowing for timely intervention and treatment. This is particularly important for individuals with risk factors for kidney disease.

In conclusion, understanding the causes, symptoms, and treatments for low creatinine levels is crucial for maintaining overall health. While low creatinine can be a sign of underlying health conditions, it’s important to remember that levels can vary based on individual factors. Regular check-ups and open communication with healthcare providers are key to managing creatinine levels and ensuring optimal health. By staying informed and proactive, individuals can take control of their health and address any potential issues related to creatinine levels early on.

Low Creatinine: Causes, Symptoms, Treatments

Low Creatinine: Causes, Symptoms, Treatments

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Medically reviewed by Carissa Stephens, R. N., CCRN, CPN — By Valencia Higuera — Updated on February 1, 2023

Low creatinine may be a possible early indicator of a health condition, such as a liver or muscle disease. But it can also occur if you drink too much water or take certain medications.

Creatinine is a chemical waste product of creatine, an amino acid made by the liver and stored in the liver. Creatinine is the result of normal muscle metabolism. The chemical enters your bloodstream after it’s broken down. Your kidneys remove it from your blood. The creatinine then exits the body through urination.

This process helps your body maintain a normal creatinine level. But sometimes, routine blood or urine tests can reveal low (or high) levels of creatinine.

Normal levels vary according to your body size and muscle mass. For example, a normal range for men is between 0.6 and 1.2 mg/dl and a normal range for women is between 0.5 and 1.1 mg/dl.

The symptoms that go with low creatinine levels depend on the underlying condition. Low creatinine levels can be caused by:

• A muscle disease, such as muscular dystrophy. Symptoms of a muscle disease include muscle weakness, muscle stiffness and pain, and decreased mobility.
• A liver disease. Poor liver function interferes with creatine production, which can cause low creatinine. Symptoms include jaundice, abdominal pain and swelling, and pale, bloody, or tar-colored stools.
• Excess water loss. Pregnancy, excess water intake, and certain medications can cause this.

Since the breakdown of muscle tissue produces creatinine, low levels of this chemical waste often occur in people with low muscle mass. However, this doesn’t always mean there’s a serious medical problem.

A reduction in muscle mass is common in older individuals, as most people lose muscle mass as they age. Low muscle mass can also result from malnutrition, or from eating a low-meat or low-protein diet.

The causes of low creatinine differ from the causes of high creatinine. Creatinine levels also play a role in assessing kidney function. When creatinine begins to accumulate in the body, doctors have to run tests to check for kidney problems.

Possible causes of a higher creatinine level include:

• kidney damage or kidney failure
• kidney infection
• reduced blood flow to the kidneys
• dehydration

If you have high creatinine levels, symptoms may include:

• nausea
• vomiting
• fatigue
• changes in urination
• high blood pressure
• chest pains
• muscle cramps

Your doctor can use multiple tests to check your creatinine level. One option is a serum creatinine test, which measures the amount of creatinine in your bloodstream. Another option is a creatinine urine test.

If your lab results confirm a low creatinine level, your doctor may suggest more testing to rule out a muscular disease. This may include a muscle biopsy or a muscle enzyme test to check for muscle damage.

The outlook is generally positive for people who have low creatinine levels, as long as they receive necessary treatment for any underlying medical condition. If further testing rules out a muscle disease, your doctor may suggest lifestyle and diet changes and then retest your level at a later time. With the proper adjustments, your levels should normalize.

Last medically reviewed on May 3, 2017

How we reviewed this article:

Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

• Creatinine. (2017, February 2)
  labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/creatinine/tab/test/
• Mayo Clinic Staff. (2016, August 9). Chronic kidney disease: Symptoms and causes
  mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/chronic-kidney-disease/symptoms-causes/dxc-20207466
• Mayo Clinic Staff. (2016, January 27). Creatinine test: Results
  mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/creatinine-test/details/results/rsc-20179431

Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available.

Current Version

Feb 1, 2023

Written By

Valencia Higuera

Edited By

Heather Hobbs

May 3, 2017

Medically Reviewed By

Carissa Stephens, RN, CCRN, CPN

Share this article

Medically reviewed by Carissa Stephens, R.N., CCRN, CPN — By Valencia Higuera — Updated on February 1, 2023

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6 Home Remedies to Reduce Levels

You may be able to lower your creatinine levels and support kidney health by avoiding certain supplements, medications, and other substances, such as cigarettes.

Creatinine is a waste product that’s generated when you use your muscles. Eating lots of protein may also produce small amounts of this organic compound.

Your bloodstream transports creatinine to your kidneys, where your body filters it out through your urine. However, if your kidneys aren’t working properly, the level of creatinine in your blood can build up.

Your healthcare provider may check your blood and urine for creatinine, as well as order other tests to evaluate the health of your kidneys. A normal level depends on your age, race, gender, and body size.

Abnormal creatinine levels may be a sign of kidney disease.

You may need a creatinine test if you have these symptoms:

• changes in urination (frequency, pain, foaminess, or blood)
• muscle cramps
• fatigue
• nausea or vomiting
• puffiness around the eyes
• swelling in the feet or ankles

Your doctor may likewise recommend regular creatinine testing if you have any of the following conditions, which may contribute to decreased kidney function:

• diabetes
• high blood pressure
• thyroid disease
• autoimmune diseases
• bacterial infection of the kidneys
• a blocked urinary tract
• a family history of kidney disease

Creatinine levels can also rise temporarily from strenuous exercise or using certain medications like sulfamethoxazole, trimethoprim, or chemotherapy drugs.

Furthermore, becoming pregnant or eating a diet high in red meat may contribute.

Your body needs to clean your blood to function optimally. The best way to lower your creatinine levels is to treat the underlying cause.

If your blood creatinine is high, it’s important to work with your healthcare provider to develop a treatment plan to address any medical issues that might be harming your kidney function.

Along with your medicines and other treatments, ask your healthcare provider whether the following lifestyle changes are appropriate for you.

Here are 8 ways to naturally lower your creatinine levels.

Creatine is a natural compound made in your liver. It’s transported to your muscles where it’s used for energy. When creatine is used as energy, it’s degraded into creatinine, a metabolic byproduct.

In addition to its natural form, creatine is available as an oral supplement. Some athletes use these creatinine-producing supplements to help enhance athletic performance.

Anyone wishing to reduce their creatinine levels to improve their kidney function should not take creatine supplements. While creatine supplementation has been widely studied, there is a lack of long term studies on people with kidney disease.

Talk with your doctor before adding any supplement to your diet.

Research shows that eating large amounts of protein can increase creatinine levels, at least temporarily. In particular, cooked red meat can affect creatinine. The heat from cooking causes the creatine found in meat to produce creatinine.

People following diets very high in red meat or other protein sources, including dairy products, may have higher creatinine levels than people who eat fewer of those foods.

If you eat lots of red meat, switch to more vegetable-based dishes. Try swapping out beef burgers for:

• vegetable patties
• hearty vegetable stew
• lentil soup

More research is needed to determine dietary fiber’s effects on creatinine levels. Nevertheless, one study showed significant reductions in creatinine levels in people with chronic kidney disease who increased their fiber intake.

Fiber can be found in many foods, including:

• fruits
• vegetables
• whole grains
• legumes

Dehydration can raise creatinine levels. Fluid intake can also be an issue for some people who have kidney disease.

Talk with your healthcare provider about how much water and other fluids you should drink daily, as well as the best time to drink them.

Diets that include excess salt can contribute to high blood pressure. Processed foods, in particular, are often loaded with sodium and phosphorus, which studies have shown potentially cause renal issues.

Consider focusing on whole, unprocessed foods, and using spices and herbs to flavor your food when possible.

Over-the-counter painkillers like non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may be harmful if taken too often or in amounts over the recommended dosage, especially if you have kidney disease.

Talk with your healthcare provider to determine the right treatments for pain and inflammation and how often to take them.

Smoking cigarettes can harm the body in a number of ways, including significantly increasing the risk of chronic kidney disease.

Quitting can be a way to reduce the likelihood of issues with your kidneys that may increase creatinine levels.

Alcohol consumption can be a tricky issue when it comes to kidney function. Some studies have shown that moderate alcohol consumption may help decrease the risk of chronic kidney disease.

Other studies have shown that excessive alcohol has the potential to damage the kidneys. It can also contribute to conditions like high blood pressure and alcohol dependency.

If you drink alcohol, consult your healthcare provider about the safest levels for your health needs.

Excess creatinine levels can indicate serious medical conditions but also be a temporary byproduct of certain lifestyle factors or conditions.

If your healthcare provider finds that your creatinine levels are high, changes to your activity levels and eating, drinking, and supplementation habits may help reduce them.

Serum urea

Urea is the main breakdown product of proteins. It is the chemical form in which the body’s unnecessary nitrogen is removed in the urine.

Accumulation of urea and other nitrogen-containing compounds in the blood due to renal insufficiency leads to uremia.

Synonyms Russian

Carbonic diamide, urea, blood urea.

Synonyms English

Urea nitrogen Urea Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) Urea Plasma Urea

Test method

UV kinetic test.

Units

mmol/l (millimoles per litre).

What biomaterial can be used for research?

Venous, capillary blood.

How to properly prepare for an examination?

• Do not eat for 12 hours before the test.
• Avoid physical and emotional stress and do not smoke for 30 minutes prior to the examination.

General information about the study

Urea is one of the end products of protein metabolism, containing nitrogen. It is produced in the liver, transported by the blood to the kidneys, where it is filtered through the vascular glomerulus, and then excreted. The result of the blood urea test is an indicator of glomerular production and urinary excretion.

Metabolized nitrogen is found in the body in the form of ammonia, produced from residues from the breakdown and processing of proteins. Ammonia in the liver combines with carbon dioxide to form urea. Rapid protein breakdown and kidney damage rapidly raise blood urea levels (as does virtually any massive cell death).

The amount of urea excreted is directly dependent on the level of protein consumed by a person, the causes of an increase in urea in the blood are feverish conditions, complications of diabetes, and increased hormonal function of the adrenal glands. An elevated urea level is a marker of a decrease in glomerular filtration.

Urea is one of the main blood metabolites, the body does not use it in any way, but only gets rid of it. Since this excretion process is continuous, a certain amount of urea is normally always present in the blood.

The urea level should be interpreted inseparably from the creatinine values. The term “uremia” is used when the level of urea in the blood rises above 20 mmol/l.

Azotemia, also indicated by an increase in urea concentration, most often results from inadequate excretion due to kidney disease.

The level of urea in the blood is reduced in many liver diseases. This is due to the inability of damaged liver cells to synthesize urea, which, in turn, leads to an increase in the concentration of ammonia in the blood and the development of hepatic encephalopathy.

Renal failure manifests itself when the glomerulus loses the ability to filter blood metabolites through itself. It can happen suddenly (acute kidney failure) in response to disease, drugs, poisons, injury. Sometimes this is a consequence of chronic diseases of the kidneys (pyelonephritis, glomerulonephritis, amyloidosis, kidney tumors, etc.) and other organs (diabetes, hypertension, etc.).

The urea test is usually given in combination with a blood creatinine test.

What is research used for?

• To evaluate kidney function for a range of conditions (in conjunction with a creatinine test).
• For the diagnosis of kidney disease and for the evaluation of patients with chronic or acute renal failure.

When is the test scheduled?

• Urea is tested during a biochemical study:
  • for non-specific complaints,
  • when evaluating kidney function before prescribing drug therapy,
  • before hospitalization of a patient due to an acute illness,
  • when a person is in a hospital.
• For symptoms of impaired renal function:
  • weakness, fatigue, decreased attention, poor appetite, sleep problems,
  • swelling of the face, wrists, ankles, ascites,
  • frothy, red or coffee-colored urine,
  • decreased diuresis,
  • problems with the act of urination (burning, discontinuity, dominance of nocturnal diuresis,
  • pain in the lumbar region (especially on the sides of the spine), under the ribs,
  • high pressure.
• In addition, this analysis can be carried out periodically:
  • to check the condition of patients with chronic kidney disease or non-renal chronic diseases such as diabetes, congestive heart failure, myocardial infarction, arterial hypertension, etc.,
  • before and during drug therapy to determine the state of kidney function,
  • after dialysis sessions to evaluate their effectiveness.

What do the results mean?

Reference values:

Reasons for high blood urea:

• decreased kidney function due to congestive heart failure, salt and fluid loss, shock combined with excessive protein catabolism (gastrointestinal bleeding, acute myocardial infarction, stress, burns),
• chronic kidney disease (pyelonephritis, glomerulonephritis, amyloidosis, kidney tuberculosis, etc. ),
• urinary tract obstruction (bladder tumor, prostate adenoma, urolithiasis, etc.),
• bleeding from the upper gastrointestinal tract (gastric ulcer, duodenal ulcer, gastric cancer, duodenal ulcer, etc.),
• diabetes mellitus with ketoacidosis,
• increased protein catabolism in oncological diseases,
• taking corticosteroids, nephrotoxic drugs, tetracyclines, excess thyroxine,
• use of anabolic steroids,
• food high in protein (meat, fish, eggs, cheese, cottage cheese).

Causes of a decrease in the level of urea in the blood:

• liver failure, some liver diseases: hepatitis, cirrhosis, acute hepatodystrophy, liver tumors, hepatic coma, poisoning with hepatotoxic poisons, overdose of drugs (this disrupts the synthesis of urea),
• acromegaly (a hormonal disease characterized by increased production of growth hormone),
• fasting, low protein diet,
• intestinal malabsorption, e. g. celiac disease,
• nephrotic syndrome (increased urinary protein excretion, hyperlipidemia, reduced blood protein levels),
• increased production of antidiuretic hormone (ADH) and, as a result, pathological hypervolemia,
• pregnancy (increased protein synthesis and increased renal filtration cause a decrease in the amount of urea in pregnant women).

What can influence the result?

• In children and women, the rate of urea in the blood is slightly lower due to less muscle mass than in men.
• A decrease in the level of this indicator occurs during pregnancy due to an increase in blood volume.
• In the elderly, blood urea levels are elevated due to the inability of the kidneys to adequately maintain urine density.
• A large number of medications taken also affects the level of urea in the blood (especially cephalosporins, cisplatin, aspirin, tetracyclines, thiazide diuretics increase it).
• Blood urea levels are sometimes affected by the amount of protein a person consumes.
• In young children, due to increased protein synthesis, the level of urea is normally somewhat reduced.

Also recommended

• Urinalysis according to Nechiporenko
• Urinalysis with microscopy
• Rehberg test (endogenous creatinine clearance)
• Serum uric acid
• Uric acid in daily urine
• Albumin in urine (microalbuminuria)
• Serum urea
• Urea in urine
• Creatinine in daily urine
• Serum creatinine
• Potassium, sodium, chlorine in daily urine
• Serum potassium
• Serum sodium
• Chlorine in serum
• Phosphorus in daily urine
• Phosphorus in serum
• Serum calcium
• Daily urine calcium
• Calcium, ionized

Who orders the examination?

Therapist, urologist, nephrologist, infectious disease specialist, endocrinologist, gastroenterologist, gynecologist, cardiologist.

Biochemical blood test

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A biochemical blood test is used to assess the state of the main metabolic processes in the body and determine the performance of vital organs and body systems, such as the liver, kidneys, muscle tissue, etc. An increase or decrease in the concentration of certain substances may be early signs of the development of dangerous deviations that require correction. For analysis, blood from a vein is used. The following indicators of a biochemical blood test are most often evaluated in clinical practice:

Creatinine is a substance that is formed during the work of muscle tissue. In the process of muscle contraction, a special substance breaks down. The concentration of creatinine in the blood plasma is relatively constant and depends on the ratio between the processes of its formation in the process of muscle work and excretion by the kidneys. An increase in creatinine concentration usually indicates impaired renal function, but may be a sign of a number of other diseases, or reflect the individual characteristics of the patient. A decrease in creatinine concentration can be observed with a decrease in muscle mass or muscle diseases, against the background of taking a small amount of meat food (for example, in vegetarians), after taking a large amount of liquid, etc. To clarify the results obtained, the creatinine clearance is calculated – an indicator that reflects the excretion of this substance from the body.

Urea is an end product of proteins. Plays an important role in the formation of urine. Determination of the concentration of urea in blood plasma, like creatinine, is used to assess the functional state of the kidneys.

Uric acid is the end product of the metabolism of purine bases, which are found in large quantities in red meat, organ meats and legumes. Violation of purine metabolism leads to an increase in the concentration of uric acid, which can be deposited in the joints in the form of crystals and cause a sharp painful sensation, which is the cause of gout. The same crystals can be formed during chemotherapy – the massive decay of tumor cells during treatment leads to a “release” of purines from them, which can have an adverse effect on various organs and systems, primarily on the kidneys.

Total protein and its fractions (albumin, globulins) – an indicator of protein metabolism in the body, which reflects the alimentary state of the body (allows to identify nutritional deficiencies), indirectly assess the state of the immune system, the state of the liver, etc. The ratio of the main protein fractions can be disturbed in some diseases of the hematopoietic system.

ALT, AST, GGT (“hepatic” transaminases) – indicators of the state of liver function. Their increase can be observed in patients with liver diseases when its cells are damaged, for example, due to the presence of hepatitis, the involvement of the liver in the tumor process, or the toxicity of the treatment.

Alkaline phosphatase (AP) is an enzyme involved in many reactions of phosphoric acid metabolism. Its increase is found in many liver diseases, especially those accompanied by stagnation and impaired outflow of bile, as well as in the presence of secondary damage to bone tissue.

Total bilirubin and its fractions (direct bilirubin, indirect bilirubin) – products of hemoglobin breakdown, which are normally formed in the process of “renewal” of erythrocytes, and myoglobin and some enzymes. The indirect (non-conjugated) bilirubin formed during this process is a substance toxic to the body. In the liver, it is converted into non-toxic direct (conjugated) bilirubin and excreted from the body along with bile and urine. It is bilirubin that gives the feces in the stool their characteristic color. In diseases of the liver and conditions that are accompanied by violations of the outflow of bile from their body, the processes of excretion of bilirubin from the body are violated. Clinical manifestations of this may be a sudden darkening of urine, light-colored feces and yellowness of the skin. If the processes of formation of direct bilirubin are disturbed (with the development of liver failure or with the simultaneous breakdown of a large number of red blood cells), the concentration of indirect bilirubin increases in the blood plasma. If the processes of bile outflow are directly disturbed (for example, when the biliary tract is compressed by a tumor), the concentration of direct bilirubin increases. If jaundice develops, seek immediate medical attention .

Glucose is the main nutrient that is necessary for the normal functioning of most organs and body systems. The main source of glucose is nutrients supplied with food from the external environment.