01Markers · Kidney
Cystatin C
A small protein made by all cells at a steady rate and filtered by the kidneys. Unlike creatinine, it is little affected by muscle mass.
- Measured in
- Blood (serum)
- Units
- mg/L
- Also called
- CysC
- NAC
- L-carnitine
- Berberine
- Vitamin C
- Creatine
- Omega-3
- Ashwagandha
- Collagen
- Finnish sauna
- HIIT
- Iron
- L-theanine
- Lion's mane
- Magnesium
- Melatonin
- Milk thistle
- NAD+
- PQQ
- Red yeast rice
- Resveratrol
- Taurine
- Ubiquinol (CoQ10)
- Vitamin D3
- Vitamin E
- Vitamin K2
- Zinc
- Zone 2 cardio
AWhat moves Cystatin C
6 of 27 studied
Moves it4
Human studies found a change. The grade reflects the studies behind it, from A (strongest) to D.
NACLowersGrade B
NAC lowers cystatin C.
Human trials · 5 studies linked
- The impact of N-acetylcysteine and ascorbic acid in contrast-induced nephropathy in critical care patients: an open-label randomized controlled study (2017)
- Potential Role of Allopurinol in Preventing Contrast-Induced Nephropathy in Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial (2017)
- The efficacy of probucol combined with hydration in preventing contrast-induced nephropathy in patients with coronary heart disease undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention: a multicenter, prospe (2017)
- Double-blinded, randomized controlled trial of N-acetylcysteine for prevention of acute kidney injury in high risk patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass. (2015)
- N-Acetylcysteine for Hereditary Cystatin C Amyloid Angiopathy: A Nonrandomized Clinical Trial. (2025)
L-carnitineLowersGrade B
L-carnitine lowers cystatin C.
Human trials · 2 studies linked
6 studies in corpus; cystatin C is a GFR-independent renal marker. If carnitine truly improves renal function (vs. merely reducing creatinine generation), cystatin C would provide confirmatory evidence. Data gap.
- Effects of l-carnitine supplementation on cardiovascular and bone turnover markers in patients with pemphigus vulgaris under corticosteroids treatment: A randomized, double-blind, controlled trial. (2019)
- [Influence of levocarnitine on heart function and endocrine among patients with heart failure]. (2013)
BerberineLowersGrade B
Berberine lowers cystatin C.
Human trials · 1 study linked
Vitamin CLowersGrade B
Vitamin C lowers cystatin C.
Human trials · 1 study linked
1 study only. Evidence gap.
Studied, no change2
Studies looked and found no meaningful change. That is a result, not missing data.
CreatineNo changeGrade A
Studies of Creatine found no change in cystatin C.
Human trials · Negligible effect · 3 studies linked
Cystatin C — filtered by glomeruli but unaffected by the creatine metabolism pathway — confirms renal safety. Serves as creatinine-independent renal function marker. Naeini 2025 SR/MA primary endpoint.
Omega-3No changeGrade C
Studies of Omega-3 found no change in cystatin C.
Small effect · 0 studies linked
This result is graded, but no study is linked to it yet. Treat it as unconfirmed.
No dedicated MA; single RCTs in CKD and diabetic nephropathy populations show no consistent change in cystatin C.
Not studied21
No usable human study has measured Cystatin C with these. A gap is not a negative result: nobody has looked.
AshwagandhaCollagenFinnish saunaHIITIronL-theanineLion's maneMagnesiumMelatoninMilk thistleNAD+PQQRed yeast riceResveratrolTaurineUbiquinol (CoQ10)Vitamin D3Vitamin EVitamin K2ZincZone 2 cardio