Effect of creatine supplementation on kidney stones recurrence in an athlete: a case report

Introduction: Several studies examined the effects of creatine monohydrate supplementation on renal function, but no previous study has investigated its effects on kidney stones in humans. Observation: A renal ultrasound in a healthy young athlete (without a known renal morphological anomaly, normal kidney function, normal phospholipid and uric acid data) revealed a kidney stone of 11 mm in the lower right calyx. Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy was applied in order to break the down stone. Twenty-one days later, a follow-up renal ultrasound showed the absence of stones in the kidney. One week later, the athlete started creatine monohydrate supplementation for two months. Fourteen months after stopping creatine monohydrate supplementation, a third renal ultrasound confirmed the absence of stones in the kidney. Conclusion. Two months of creatine monohydrate supplementation in an athlete with a history of kidney stones could not be associated with kidney stone recurrence in the long run.