Q: What do the “BUN” and “creatinine” lab tests mean? A: BUN stands for “Blood Urea Nitrogen,” and represents a breakdown product of protein digestion. Protein is digested into amino acids. Amino ...

Dear Dr. Gott: I found your recent column on the reporting (or lack thereof) of lab tests to be unsettling because you didn't go into enough detail. Specifically, I'm speaking about tests such as ...

Creatinine is a product of muscle metabolism and the most specific indicator of renal function because it is freely filtered through the glomerulus. Throughout adult life, the serum creatinine can ...

Average creatinine levels can vary depending on a person’s age, sex, and muscle mass. However, average ranges are 0.7 to 1.2 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) for males and 0.5 to 1.0 for females.