What is the meaning of low Creatine Kinase (CK)?

From the Guidelines

Low CK levels are generally not considered clinically significant and do not require specific treatment unless accompanied by symptoms or concerns. When evaluating low CK levels, it's essential to consider the individual's overall health, muscle mass, and other laboratory findings. According to the study by 1, CK levels can vary depending on factors such as ethnicity, body composition, and exercise intensity. For instance, black individuals tend to have higher CK levels than South Asian and white individuals due to higher CK activity in tissues with high energy demands and larger muscle mass. Some key points to consider when interpreting low CK levels include:

• Low CK levels can occur naturally in people with lower muscle mass, such as elderly individuals or those with sedentary lifestyles.
• Women typically have lower CK levels than men due to differences in muscle mass.
• The normal range for CK varies by laboratory but is typically between 30-200 units per liter (U/L) for men and 20-180 U/L for women.
• If concerned about low CK results, it's best to discuss them with a healthcare provider, as they can interpret the results in the context of overall health and other laboratory findings. In the context of statin-associated side effects, low CK levels are not typically a concern, as high CK levels are more commonly associated with muscle damage or injury, as noted in the study by 1. However, it's crucial to monitor CK levels and other muscle symptoms when initiating statin therapy, especially in individuals with predisposing factors such as age, female sex, low body mass index, or comorbidities.

From the Research

Creatine Kinase (CK) Levels

• CK levels are an important indicator of muscle damage or disease, with high levels often indicating muscle injury or conditions such as muscular dystrophy 2, 3, 4.
• However, the question asks about "low ck meaning", which is not directly addressed in the provided studies, as they primarily focus on elevated CK levels.
• It can be inferred that low CK levels may not be a cause for concern in the context of muscle disease, as the studies provided focus on the implications of high CK levels.

Relationship Between CK Levels and Muscle Disease

• Elevated CK levels are often associated with muscle damage or disease, and can be used as a biomarker to monitor disease progression and response to treatment 2, 3, 4.
• In some cases, CK levels may remain elevated despite treatment, indicating ongoing muscle damage or disease 2, 4.
• The relationship between CK levels and muscle disease is complex, and can be influenced by a variety of factors, including age, treatment, and underlying disease severity 3, 4.

Factors Influencing CK Levels

• Statin use has been shown to increase CK levels in some individuals, particularly those with unnoticed hypothyroidism 5.
• Exercise can also increase CK levels, and the use of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors such as lovastatin may exacerbate exercise-induced skeletal muscle injury 6.
• Other factors, such as age and underlying disease severity, can also influence CK levels and their relationship to muscle disease 3, 4.