What are the factors that can increase the levels of uric acid?

Published: May 23, 2023

Average read time: 2 minutes

While it is natural for everyone to have uric acid in their body, complications can occur when there is an excessive amount of uric acid, a condition known as hyperuricemia. This condition raises the risk of developing gout¹.

High level of uric acid will precipitate as solid crystals and these crystals tend to accumulate more in an acidic environment¹.

When uric acid crystals form in the joints, it can be extremely painful, causing what’s called a gout attack¹. The most common place for this to happen is in the big toe, but gout can also affect many other joints in the body¹.

Some of the risk factors that can increase the levels of uric acid includes²:

Middle-aged men or postmenopausal women

People who drink alcoholic beverages excessively

Certain medications may increase the levels of uric acid. Please check with your doctors on your medications.

People with hypertension, kidney disease, thyroid disease, diabetes, or sleep apnoea, which can make it harder for the body to eliminate excess uric acid

High consumption of purine-rich foods, such as organ meats and red meats

High levels of uric acid can be attributed to these risk factors, as they can lead to an increase in the production of uric acid, a decrease in the excretion of uric acid, or a combination of both processes¹

References:

George C and Minter DA. Hyperuricemia. StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023.
Gout: Symptoms, Causes & Treatments [Internet]. Healthline [cited 5 May 2023]. Available from: https://www.healthline.com/health/gout#causes

MAL2288366 NOV 2023

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