HYDERABAD: Doctors across the city have noticed a disturbing trend among youngsters, especially gym-goers, of increasing cases of kidney ailments due to excessive consumption of creatine, protein supplements and painkillers.
Although usually asymptomatic until a later stage, doctors say they have been approached by several youngsters aged between 16 and 25 suffering from high levels of creatinine and uric acid. While creatine is a natural compound that promotes muscle growth, creatinine is a waste product in the blood that indicates how well the kidneys are working.
Recently, a 25-year-old man from Kukatpally, who has been going to the gym since the age of 19, underwent two dialysis sessions at the NIMS. According to doctors, the gym trainers advised the boy to take creatine and protein supplements to build bigger muscles. While doctors found no damage to his kidney, a biopsy showed that most of the filters (nephrons) in his kidney were damaged and blocked.
Excess protein intake bad
"He complained of dizziness and exhaustion. The condition led to alarming levels of creatinine, up to 25 mg/dL, and urea in his body. This was due to excessive intake of proteins and supplements that do not allow the kidney to carry out the filtration process," said Dr Sree Bhushan Raju, HOD nephrology wing, NIMS, adding that the normal creatinine level ranges from 0.7 mg/dL to 1.3 mg/dL.
According to a study published in July 2024 by BMC Pediatrics, a health journal, in Telangana, 20% of children and adolescents in the age group of 4-19 years have impaired kidney function (IKF).
Dr Manjusha Yadla, HOD nephrology, Gandhi Hospital, noted that excessive use of protein supplements puts stress on the kidney, with gym-goers also experiencing protein leakage in the urine. She said protein supplements also contain 'heavy metals' that can potentially lead to chronic kidney disease.
"We get into these situations late in youngsters who want to build muscle. They take creatine, vitamins and protein supplements or shakes, anabolic steroids to build muscle, and painkillers for soreness," said Dr Manjusha .
Anabolic steroids risk factor
"While the normal requirement for protein in a healthy adult is 0.8g/kg per day, gym-goers take 1.5-2g/kg from supplements, sometimes as much as 5g/kg per day. This puts a strain on the kidneys to filter the protein and they start to fail," she added.
Dr Manisha Sahay, HOD nephrology, Osmania General Hospital, points out that kidney function can also be affected by anabolic steroids and excessive dependence on painkillers. "The non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for muscle pain, such as aspirin, can damage the kidneys."
Dr RC Madarasu, a consultant nephrologist, Yashoda Hospitals, said: "When young people come in with high creatinine, I advise them to stop taking supplements for a few months. If someone still does not recover, it means they already have a kidney problem."
Doctors recommend that gym-goers have a basic health check, which includes kidney and urine function, at least twice a year. "Unlike heart and other organs, kidney symptoms usually go unnoticed, but can suddenly manifest themselves. Kidney function is estimated by the glomerular filtration rate, not by creatine. There is no specific way of knowing when it is declining. That is why early detection is important," said Manjusha.
Although usually asymptomatic until a later stage, doctors say they have been approached by several youngsters aged between 16 and 25 suffering from high levels of creatinine and uric acid. While creatine is a natural compound that promotes muscle growth, creatinine is a waste product in the blood that indicates how well the kidneys are working.
Recently, a 25-year-old man from Kukatpally, who has been going to the gym since the age of 19, underwent two dialysis sessions at the NIMS. According to doctors, the gym trainers advised the boy to take creatine and protein supplements to build bigger muscles. While doctors found no damage to his kidney, a biopsy showed that most of the filters (nephrons) in his kidney were damaged and blocked.
Excess protein intake bad
"He complained of dizziness and exhaustion. The condition led to alarming levels of creatinine, up to 25 mg/dL, and urea in his body. This was due to excessive intake of proteins and supplements that do not allow the kidney to carry out the filtration process," said Dr Sree Bhushan Raju, HOD nephrology wing, NIMS, adding that the normal creatinine level ranges from 0.7 mg/dL to 1.3 mg/dL.
According to a study published in July 2024 by BMC Pediatrics, a health journal, in Telangana, 20% of children and adolescents in the age group of 4-19 years have impaired kidney function (IKF).
Dr Manjusha Yadla, HOD nephrology, Gandhi Hospital, noted that excessive use of protein supplements puts stress on the kidney, with gym-goers also experiencing protein leakage in the urine. She said protein supplements also contain 'heavy metals' that can potentially lead to chronic kidney disease.
"We get into these situations late in youngsters who want to build muscle. They take creatine, vitamins and protein supplements or shakes, anabolic steroids to build muscle, and painkillers for soreness," said Dr Manjusha .
Anabolic steroids risk factor
"While the normal requirement for protein in a healthy adult is 0.8g/kg per day, gym-goers take 1.5-2g/kg from supplements, sometimes as much as 5g/kg per day. This puts a strain on the kidneys to filter the protein and they start to fail," she added.
Dr Manisha Sahay, HOD nephrology, Osmania General Hospital, points out that kidney function can also be affected by anabolic steroids and excessive dependence on painkillers. "The non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for muscle pain, such as aspirin, can damage the kidneys."
Dr RC Madarasu, a consultant nephrologist, Yashoda Hospitals, said: "When young people come in with high creatinine, I advise them to stop taking supplements for a few months. If someone still does not recover, it means they already have a kidney problem."
Doctors recommend that gym-goers have a basic health check, which includes kidney and urine function, at least twice a year. "Unlike heart and other organs, kidney symptoms usually go unnoticed, but can suddenly manifest themselves. Kidney function is estimated by the glomerular filtration rate, not by creatine. There is no specific way of knowing when it is declining. That is why early detection is important," said Manjusha.
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