SHAWN BAKER 3 | eGFR test can give FALSE POSITIVE! Need… Cystatin C test

presents episode 414 | Dr Shawn Baker
Revero podcast update on Dr Ted Naiman’s GFR

Looking at kidney function...family physicians will often check:
-estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), based on
-serim creatinine
-test results will show 2 numbers: 1 is yours, other is standard
(for African-Americans, the standard is higher (10-12%))
-assumption: African-Americans carry
more muscle mass, so eGFR higher

Creatinine is a reflection of body protein and protein turnover...
-the estimated eGFR, based on creatinine, has a major flow:
~protein turnover
-so, people with lots of muscle mass,
~who work out really hard
~who eat a lot of protein
-will see an artificially low eGFR
(considered bad)
-often, below 60 is considered class 1
chronic renal inefficiency

eGFR above 90 is considered good...
-above 100 is totally good
What happens when you are on a carnivore or high protein diet &
-your eGFR shows up low?
"Your doctor will say you must cut back on red meat..."
-that is most likely an error!
There is another test, Cystatin C
-widely used, reliable
-does not depend on protein turnover
or muscle mass

When you do these two tests together, you may see a low eGFR
but a good GFR based on Cystatin C...
Dr Ted Naiman, had his GFR tested by both and saw this happen!
-he is a healthy, strong guy, eats high protein diet
-wrote The P:E Diet book
-his eGFR was 54!!!
So, he got his Cystatin C test:
Result: 112!

Dr Baker: my experience: eGFR 56, but
-Cystatin C: 118

Physicians: check out efficacy of Cystatin C
-eliminates the high protein, muscle mass confounding
-we know meat is not killing your kidneys
-high protein is not killing your kidneys

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[dunaiyoutubification]

had a low EGFR, but not so low that my DR was concerned. But for my peace of mind, I had a Cystatin C test - very inexpensive online thru Ulta Lab. Glad I did - all is well, including my peace of mind.

[wernerbauer]

Glad I found this video. Last 4 years of I've had blood tests showing abnormal EGFR and creatinine levels. Was doing my head carnivore diet and doing weights most of the week so this explains it. Thank you!

[jasoncheshire]

I am a 48 year old male that was diagnosed with stage 2 CKD about 4 years ago. My egfr is 61 and my creatinine has been trending between 1.27 and 1.5 over the last 4 years. I don’t have diabetes or hypertension. I am in good health overall and have a normal BMI( I have maybe 15% more muscle on my frame than most guys. I saw a nephrologist a few years ago and based on my good health, he did a cyststin C test with egfr and it was 110 and my cystatin C was .8. The doctor told me that egfr is a calculation that has varying factors that lower its accuracy. He also told me creatinine is no longer the gold standard in a CKD diagnosis. He told me to ignore the CKD diagnosis. I did tell him that in my 20s, i took creatine and ate a high protein diet in an effort to build muscle. This was over a 3 or 4 year span. I also may not have drank enough water for a few years or even many years and could have been dehydrated while consuming a fair amount of sugar. My blood sugar has always been normal though. I drink water when I’m thirsty but I don’t drink 64 ounces a day. Maybe an average of 50 ounces of liquids per day.

I wanted to provide as much of a background as possible to ask you this question.

I still have anxiety over the CKD diagnosis because even though the Cystatin C test came back perfectly normal, i have not had a thorough or satisfactory explanation about why my kidneys are not filtered creatinine normally and why this correlates with a egfr of just above 60. I do not eat a high protein diet. I’m scared to go into stage 3 CKD as I know kidney disease can lead to cardiovascular problems and even an early death. I’m scared because this is my one and only life and I want to live a long and healthy life.

Can you please help me understand if my kidneys are abnormal or normal? Do I have CKD? What exactly is going on? Why are my kidneys filtering cystatin C properly but not creatinine? Can I live my life as if there is nothing wrong with my kidneys and eat pizza, burgers, junk food occasionally like I nice or twice a week?

I hope you can understand my anxiety because I don’t want to negatively affect my lifespan or my health. Thanks for your time and for your help and care.

[DonCurrier]

Cystatin C should be the default eGFR test for everyone. The "normal" tests does not take into account several factors. My doctor had me convinced I was on my way to kidney disease with an eGFR test of 67. I heard about Cystatin C from a doctor who promotes the carnivore diet (which I am on and has done wonders for my health). My Cystatin C came in at .82 with an eGFR of 103. perfectly normal kidney function. I was stressed about it for months needlessly. And i eat a lot of red meat on the carnivore diet. By the way, protein does not ruin your kidneys and any doctor who tells you that, needs to be fired and replaced with someone competent.

[rickguymon]

Glad you did this. I just a low GFR and H C score. The doctor has not commented yet but I will ask the Cystatin c test.

[Ummyusi]

I’m sad because I used to stress over my serum creatinine but now my cystatin c has been WORSE than my creatinine level so my kidney function is actually worse… unlike everyone else who is relieved after the cystatin c ☹️

[onder]

yes exactly., my creatinin increased %15, and eGFR dropped to 62, approx. %20 drop, wrt previous measurement. finally I found the answer, here.

[bearshapedbubs]

my Creatinine based eGFR is in the 50s-60s, Cystatin C based eGFR is 123.


And not a single doctor, from my family doc, to my urologist to my Nephrologist has ever suggested or sent me for a Cystatin C test so I've have to order and pay for them mysetl

[Mike-rplb]

Great information. I have high muscle mass and am mostly carnivore. Recently got an creatinine based eGFR of 30. I'll be asking for a do over with Cystatin C

[wjason]

What do I do in this case. I’m 36 265. Workout 6 days a week. Egfr is 54 and my creatinine is 1.68. My nephrology is swearing and very adamant that I have kidney disease. I know for a fact that I don’t. He’s saying even with a cyst c test, a egfr if 55 still indicates a kidney problem. What do I do? I’m so stressed about this!

[Mo-yjwf]

I’ ve just did this test but I see we have some diferent numbers. It’s in the middle of range, more on the lower side. I guess it’s ok but would like to know for sure 😉. My creatinine is on high end.

[ManishChauhan-zjmu]

My creatinine is 1.5 and cystatin c is 0.78 what does it mean
I'm a normal person not going gym

[mariaespiritu]

Another video explaining away predictably bad numbers on this diet. Cholesterol goes up, doesn’t matter. A1C goes up, doesn’t matter. Blood Pressure goes up, doesn’t matter. eGFR goes down and BUN goes up, doesn’t matter. Basically no tests are valid, as per Shawn Baker, so why bother getting any blood work done at all? My mom’s eGFR on a plant based diet is 159; cholesterol 145 total, blood pressure 120/70, a1c 4.7. She doesn’t have to explain away bad numbers. Just saying.

[christianschmetterling]

My creatinine was as high as 2, 75
What the fuck
Im strong gay and the day before i have worked out and my muscles felt pretty sore this day
Now my c cystatine was at 0, 61
So basically im very ill or pretty healthy
Do not understand