Excess uric acid promotes metabolic syndrome
Until now, it had never been proven that excess uric acid in the bloodstream was responsible for metabolic syndrome.
Well, now it’s done. Indeed, researchers from the University of Washington in the USA and Nuthetal in Germany, carried out a study on mice, recently published in the scientific journal Nature Communications (1) , and were able to highlight a relationship between uric acid and metabolic syndrome.
Some reminders
Metabolic syndrome refers to the association of a series of health problems that have in common a poor body metabolism. The metabolic syndrome describes a condition considered to prefigure several serious diseases such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disorders, stroke. Could be added depression or certain cancers (2) .
Uric acid is the result of the breakdown of purines and nucleic acids, and is eliminated from the body in the urine. It is present in many foods such as fermented cheese, game, fish eggs and shellfish. A high level of uric acid in the blood is called hyperuricemia (3) .
The study
The study was carried out on mice lacking the transporter protein GLUT9, a transporter responsible for uric acid in the intestine. It emerged that in mice, after 6 to 8 weeks of deprivation of this transporter, the level of uric acid would increase considerably in the blood. Also noticed, at the same time as this hyperuricemia, an increase in insulin in the blood, hypercholesterolemia , arterial hypertension, as well as a deposit of fat on the liver of small rodents, all these being factors making part of the metabolic syndrome.
This link between elevated uric acid in the blood and the metabolic syndrome being now established, this could allow the creation of new treatments intervening in the reduction of uricemia, and therefore reduce the markers of the metabolic syndrome. This could be the case with ALLOPURINOL, for example, a drug already used to treat gout (excess uric acid in the joints).
It is possible to intervene yourself on the decrease of uric acid in our body. For this, it is important to watch your diet , and limit your protein intake (game, meat, fish, etc.). An effective way to act against hyperuricemia, and the consequences that could result from it.
Stephen Paul is the lead author and founder of My Health Sponsor. Holder of a diploma in health and well-being coaching with more than 200 articles in the field of health, he makes it a point of honor to offer advice based on reliable information, based on scientific research, and verified by health professionals.