Uric Acid

What is Uric Acid?

Uric acid is a byproduct of purine breakdown. Purines are substances naturally found in some nitrogen-containing foods, including seafood, organ meats, asparagus, peas, dried beans, and alcohol. Purines are also naturally produced by the body.

Uric acid is produced in the liver, released into the bloodstream, and then travels to the kidneys. The kidneys filter uric acid out of the blood and remove it from the body in urine. Although uric acid doesn’t have an essential role in the human body, it’s naturally produced when specific proteins are metabolised. High uric acid levels are mostly associated with a type of arthritis called gout^[1].

More recent research has also highlighted an association between high uric acid levels and atrial fibrillation (AF) in people with or without heart disease. AF causes an irregular and sometimes fast heartbeat and increases the risk of having a stroke^[2].

A study published in 2023 followed 339,604 participants aged 30 to 60 over an average period of 26 years and found that the risk of developing AF increased with rising uric acid levels. The researchers found that individuals with the highest uric acid levels were 45% more likely to develop AF compared to those with the lowest levels^[3]. More research needs to be conducted to determine if reducing uric acid levels can lower the risk of AF, but the current study demonstrates an important link between uric acid and cardiovascular health.

What are Normal Uric Acid Levels?

The normal reference ranges for uric acid are as follows:

Data collected from Forth customers shows that uric acid levels are within the normal reference range for both sexes. Blood uric acid levels are usually lower in women than men which is apparent from our data. High uric acid levels in men are associated with an increased risk of chronic health conditions, like metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, and kidney disease^[4].

Causes and Symptoms of High Uric Acid Levels

High uric acid levels or hyperuricemia is a common condition. It is caused by the overproduction of uric acid or the kidney’s inability to filter enough out of the blood.

Hyperuricemia can be caused by:

• Genetics

  Several genes are involved in the production and excretion of uric acid in the body. Changes in these genes can affect uric acid levels and influence the risk of developing gout. The strongest link affecting the risk of gout has been identified in the genes SLC2A9 and ABCG2, confirming high uric acid levels can be inherited.

• High-purine diet

  If you consume a high amount of purine-rich food or drink, mainly meat, shellfish, and alcohol, you are at an increased risk of overproducing uric acid.

• High fructose corn syrup or full-sugar soda drinks

  Uric acid is produced when these are broken down. These products are linked to childhood obesity.

• Medications

  Medicines like diuretics and immunosuppressants can cause an overproduction of uric acid.

• High cell breakdown or turnover

  Chronic diseases such as cancer, polycythaemia vera, psoriasis, and rhabdomyolysis and activities such as extreme or intense exercise can cause a high cell turnover or increased cellular breakdown. This increases uric acid production because almost every cell in the body contains uric acid.

• Reduced uric acid excretion

  Chronic illnesses like kidney disease, acidosis, hyperparathyroidism, hypothyroidism, and Down’s syndrome can cause less uric acid to be excreted in the body causing a build-up in the blood^[5].

The most common manifestation of hyperuricemia is gout but it is also commonly associated with kidney stones. Hyperuricemia doesn’t usually cause any symptoms but gout and kidney stones do.

Common gout symptoms include:

• Severe pain in one or more of your joints (usually the toes, ankles, knees, fingers)

• Inflammation and tenderness

• Red, shiny skin over the joint

• Heat radiating from the affected joint^[6]

Kidney stones symptoms are:

• Pain in your tummy or groin (men may get pain in their testicles)

• Fever

• Feeling or being sick

• Urine infection

• Blood in your pee^[7]

How to Reduce Your Uric Acid Levels

Anyone can get hyperuricemia but some people are at a higher risk, such as anyone who:

• Was assigned male when they were born

• Is obese

• Drinks alcohol regularly

• Eats a purine-rich diet

• High fructose intake

• Has an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism)

• Has a family history of high uric acid levels or gout

However, you can help lower your uric acid levels by making some lifestyle changes.

What is the best food to reduce uric acid?

The best thing to help lower your uric acid levels naturally is to avoid or cut down the amount of purine-rich foods and drinks you consume.

Try to reduce your consumption of:

• Alcohol: all types

• Meat: turkey, bacon, veal, venison, organ meats, beef, chicken, duck, pork, and ham

• Fish: anchovies, herring, sardines, mussels, cod, trout, and haddock

• Tropical fruit due to high fructose content, ultra-processed foods which are likely to contain synthetic sugars

• Shellfish: crab, lobster, oysters, shrimps, and scallops^[8]

Instead, follow a healthy diet incorporating plant foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes. Some research shows that vitamin C might lower uric acid levels in the blood and protect against gout attacks^[9]. Vitamin C is available in supplement form but naturally occurs in fruits such as oranges, citrus, and berries.

It’s also helpful to drink plenty of water and limit your consumption of sweetened drinks and alcohol as these can increase the level of uric acid in the blood^[10].

What exercises reduce uric acid levels?

Exercise and weight loss can help to lower uric acid levels in obese or overweight people. That’s because being overweight is strongly linked to developing hyperuricemia and successful weight management has helped to lower uric acid levels significantly^[11].

Aerobic exercises are best for managing uric acid levels and body weight. Exercises such as walking, swimming, and cycling are best, but you may need to choose lower-impact activities, especially if you have gout.

Causes and Symptoms of Low Uric Acid Levels

Low uric acid or hypouricemia is a rare condition that affects around 0.5% of the population^[12].

Hypouricemia can be caused by:

• Inherited disorders

• Uric acid oxidation following treatment with uricase an enzyme that converts uric acid into a more water-soluble form called allantoin^[13]

• Reduced reabsorption in the kidneys because of genetic disorders^[14]

Low uric acid levels are not often a cause for concern but they may be used as a marker for several chronic conditions, including:

• Certain types of liver or kidney disease

• Fanconi syndrome

• Wilson’s disease

• Exposure to toxic compounds^[15]

Research also shows that people who have low uric acid levels are more likely to be diagnosed with neurological conditions, like Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and vascular dementia^[16].

People with low uric acid levels may pee more often which increases the risk of dehydration if they do not replace the fluid they are losing.

Written by Leanne Edermaniger

Based in the UK, Leanne specialises in writing about health, medicine, nutrition, and fitness.

She has over 5 years of experience in writing about health and lifestyle and has a BSc (hons) Biomedical Science and an MSc Science, Communication and Society.