Biomarkers · Renal & Purine
Serum Uric Acid
Lower values carry lower risk. In NHANES 1999–2018 with linked mortality to 2019, each standard deviation is associated with a hazard ratio of 1.16. Reproduces in NHANES
NHANES, our fit with 95% CIPublished curve
Hazard ratios relative to each curve's own reference value, so the two curves need not cross 1 at the same point. The dotted vertical line marks the NHANES median.
NHANES hazard per SD1.1695% CI 1.13–1.18 · 48,354 adults, 7,024 deaths
Published hazard ratio1.24per SD (95% CI 1.10–1.40) · Kangbuk Samsung Health Study
Where people sit
Population percentiles (mg/dL) by sex and age band. Cycle or source as recorded in the catalogue.
| Sex | Age | 5th | 25th | Median | 75th | 95th | n | Cycle / source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All | 20-39 | 3.20 | 4.10 | 5.00 | 6.00 | 7.60 | 2,700 | 2017-2018 |
| All | 40-59 | 3.40 | 4.40 | 5.30 | 6.40 | 8.00 | 2,650 | 2017-2018 |
| All | 60+ | 3.50 | 4.60 | 5.50 | 6.60 | 8.30 | 2,800 | 2017-2018 |
| All | all | 3.30 | 4.40 | 5.30 | 6.30 | 8.00 | 8,150 | 2017-2018 |
| Men | all | 4.10 | 5.10 | 6.00 | 6.90 | 8.40 | 3,950 | 2017-2018 |
| Women | all | 3.00 | 3.90 | 4.60 | 5.60 | 7.20 | 4,200 | 2017-2018 |
What studies found when this marker was changed
Effects on the biomarker reported in the cited studies. They describe what happened in those populations, not a recommendation for anyone. See all catalogued interventions.
| Type | Intervention | Reported effect | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| diet | Elimination of high-fructose corn syrup beverages and reduction of high-purine meats/beer | Lowers serum uric acid by 0.8-1.5 mg/dL | meta-analysis | Perlstein TS, et al. Serum uric acid and the risk of hypertension and cardiovasc… |
| diet | Elimination of high-fructose corn syrup beverages and beer | -10% to -25% reduction (0.8-1.8 mg/dL) | prospective cohort | Choi HK, et al. BMJ. 2008;336:309-312. |
| diet | Heavy alcohol consumption, particularly beer and spirits | +25% to +50% elevation | prospective cohort | Choi HK, et al. Lancet. 2004;363:1277-1281. |
| nutraceutical | Vitamin C supplementation (500-1000 mg/day) | -0.5 to -1.0 mg/dL reduction via uricosuric action | meta-analysis | Juraschek SP, et al. Arthritis Care Res. 2011;63:1295-1306. |
| pharmacologic | Xanthine oxidase inhibitor therapy (Allopurinol 100-300 mg/day or Febuxostat) | Lowers serum uric acid by 2.0-4.0 mg/dL (35-55%) | RCT | Perlstein TS, et al. Serum uric acid and the risk of hypertension and cardiovasc… |
| pharmacologic | Xanthine oxidase inhibitors (Allopurinol 100-300 mg / Febuxostat 40-80 mg) | -35% to -55% reduction (2.5-4.5 mg/dL drop) | rct | Becker MA, et al. N Engl J Med. 2005;353:2450-2461. |
| pharmacologic | Thiazide and loop diuretic therapy without uricosuric co-therapy | +1.0 to +2.5 mg/dL elevation | systematic review | Ben Salem C, et al. Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf. 2017;26:578-583. |
Sources
- Hazard curve: Arch Intern Med 2007; 167:404-410
- Cho SK, et al. U-shaped association between serum uric acid and all-cause mortality in Korean adults. Korean J Intern Med. 2018;33(5):984-992.
- Bleys J, et al. Serum uric acid and cardiovascular and all-cause mortality: a prospective study in NHANES III. Arch Intern Med. 2007;167(4):404-410.
- Empirical curve: our Cox model with age and sex, NHANES 1999–2018 with linked mortality to 2019.