What Are the Causes of Low Creatinine Levels?
The causes of low creatinine levels include chronic conditions that lead to declines in creatinine production along with declines in muscle mass. Having low creatinine levels is not necessarily a cause for concern, although if the cause is not readily apparent, a doctor may request some additional medical testing to find out why the levels are low. This testing will be used to determine if a patient has an underlying condition that needs to be treated. One of the most common causes is loss of muscle mass. This can occur naturally with aging, leading to lower creatinine levels in older adults. It can also be associated with wasting diseases, sudden weight loss, myasthenia gravis, muscular dystrophy, and injuries that force people to take bedrest. Any condition that leads to a decline in muscle mass can result in low creatinine levels.