Introduction: The issue of high uric acid is increasingly highlighting its severity in the field of health. It not only may trigger the painful disease of gout but also cause varying degrees of damage to multiple important organs in the human body such as blood vessels, kidneys, and liver.
In recent years, the incidence rate of hyperuricemia is showing a yearly increase, and what is more concerning is that this condition is becoming younger, no longer an exclusive problem of the elderly.
The increasing prevalence and trend of youthfulness in hyperuricemia compel people to reassess and adjust their lifestyles and dietary habits.
In the “2021 China Hyperuricemia and Gout Trends White Paper,” we have obtained detailed data on hyperuricemia. According to the white paper, the overall incidence rate of hyperuricemia in China has reached 13.3%, which means nearly 14 out of every 100 people suffer from hyperuricemia.
In terms of specific numbers, the number of hyperuricemia patients in China is estimated to be around 177 million, a substantial figure reflecting the prevalence of hyperuricemia in the Chinese population.
Additionally, the white paper also indicates that the overall incidence rate of gout has reached 1.1%, with a high number of 14.66 million patients. This implies that besides hyperuricemia itself, the issues caused by gout triggered by hyperuricemia should not be overlooked. Gout, as a common metabolic disease, has become another health issue that requires significant attention following diabetes.
Why is gout more prevalent in men?
Gout, as a common metabolic disease closely related to hyperuricemia, has a significantly higher proportion of male patients than female patients, stemming from multiple reasons.
Physiological Aspect
From a physiological perspective, the normal uric acid level in men is inherently higher than in women. Typically, the normal uric acid level for men is equal to or less than 425mmol/L, while for women, it is equal to or less than 345mmol/L.
This implies that under the same lifestyle and dietary habits, men are inherently more prone to accumulating higher levels of uric acid. When uric acid further rises, exceeding the normal range, it can easily trigger hyperuricemia and gout.
Gender Hormones’ Difference
Furthermore, the difference in gender hormones is also a crucial factor leading to gout being more common in men. Estrogen in females plays a role in promoting the excretion of uric acid from the kidneys. This hormone’s function helps maintain stable uric acid levels in females, reducing the risk of hyperuricemia and gout.
However, with advancing age, females experience a significant decrease in estrogen levels after menopause. This change might result in reduced uric acid excretion, gradual uric acid level elevation, thereby increasing the risk of gout occurrence.
Difference in Lifestyle Habits and Dietary Structure
Men generally have a preference for high-purine foods such as meat, seafood, and alcoholic beverages. These foods, during metabolism, produce uric acid, which in prolonged excessive consumption, can lead to elevated uric acid levels, triggering gout. In contrast, women tend to focus more on balanced diets and nutritional combinations, consuming fewer high-purine foods.
Finally found the culprit of high uric acid! Doctors remind: 5 major factors, 3 of which can actually be avoided
Genetic Factors
We need to understand that although genetic factors are beyond our control, through scientific dietary and lifestyle adjustments, we can significantly mitigate their impact. For instance, maintaining moderate body weight and avoiding excessive obesity because obesity increases uric acid production and inhibits uric acid excretion.
Excessive Uric Acid Production
Excessive uric acid production in gout patients may be due to familial inheritance factors. The activity and concentration of various enzymes in the body may also influence uric acid production.
Dietary Factors
Dietary factors are directly controllable by us. Avoiding excessive intake of high-purine foods such as animal organs, seafood, etc., is crucial for lowering uric acid levels. Furthermore, consuming foods rich in vitamin C and potassium, such as citrus fruits and leafy vegetables, aids in promoting uric acid excretion.
Lifestyle Habits
Lifestyle habits are also crucial factors affecting uric acid levels. Maintaining a regular sleep schedule, avoiding staying up late and excessive fatigue, helps maintain normal metabolism. Also, moderate exercise is essential; it not only enhances physical fitness but also promotes uric acid excretion.
Medication Factors
Lastly, we need to be cautious about medication factors. Some drugs, such as diuretics and aspirin, might increase uric acid production or suppress uric acid excretion. Therefore, when using these medications, we need to be careful and follow the guidance of healthcare professionals.
High uric acid, can’t eat lamb?
There is a prevalent notion circulating online: “People with high uric acid levels should not eat lamb.” Is this statement accurate? Let us explore it from a scientific perspective.
Firstly, we need to understand the purine content in lamb. According to nutritional data, lamb’s purine content is approximately 109mg/100g. This suggests that lamb falls under the category of moderate-purine foods (moderate-purine foods typically refer to foods with a purine content between 50 to 150mg per 100g).
For individuals with high uric acid levels, moderate-purine foods are not entirely forbidden. Consuming such foods in moderation is acceptable, but the key lies in the word “moderation.” Since purines metabolize into uric acid in the body, excessive intake can raise the concentration of uric acid in the blood, potentially exacerbating symptoms of high uric acid or leading to complications like gout.
So, how should individuals with high uric acid levels consume lamb? Firstly, control the intake amount. Do not consume excessive amounts of lamb at once to avoid adding burden to the body. Secondly, opt for lean lamb cuts because they have relatively lower purine content, aiding in reducing overall purine intake. Finally, it is advisable to accompany lamb consumption with ample vegetables. Vegetables are rich in vitamins and minerals, promoting uric acid excretion and lowering overall purine consumption.
Furthermore, individuals with high uric acid levels should take note of the following:
Doctor: If you don’t want your kidneys to deteriorate, try to stay away from these 4 things
Animal Organs
Animal organs like liver, kidneys, brain, etc., have traditionally held a special position on many dining tables, not only for their unique taste but also for their rich nutrient content. However, these delicious dishes conceal significant health risks that cannot be ignored. Animal organs have relatively high purine and cholesterol content, both of which, in excess, can adversely affect human health.
Additionally, the cholesterol content in animal organs should not be overlooked. Cholesterol is an essential component of cell membranes in the body, but excess cholesterol can raise lipid levels in the blood, increasing the risk of atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is a severe vascular disease that thickens and hardens blood vessel walls, reducing elasticity, thereby affecting blood circulation.
When this condition occurs in the coronary arteries, it can trigger cardiovascular diseases such as angina and myocardial infarction; if it happens in the cerebral blood vessels, it may lead to severe consequences like strokes, cerebral ischemia, etc. Therefore, for individuals with high uric acid levels, avoiding the consumption of animal organs is one of the crucial measures to protect their health.
Seafood
Seafood items such as shrimp, crab, shellfish, etc., have always been popular for their delicious taste and abundant nutritional value. However, for individuals with high uric acid levels, these delectable seafood items can pose health risks. Seafood items not only contain high purines but also are rich in salt and fats, factors that could adversely impact uric acid control.
Furthermore, many seafood items have relatively high salt content. Excessive salt intake can lead to water retention in the body, increased blood volume, and thereby add strain to the kidneys. Additionally, a high-salt diet may raise blood pressure, further intensifying the risk of cardiovascular diseases. For individuals with high uric acid levels, whose kidney function may already be compromised to some extent, a high-salt diet will worsen the situation.
Moreover, seafood items also contain notable fat content. Excessive fat intake can elevate blood lipids, increasing the risk of atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is a primary inducer of cardiovascular diseases; for individuals with high uric acid levels, who already have a relatively higher risk of cardiovascular diseases, it is essential to avoid excessive fat intake.
Alcoholic Beverages
Alcohol, a commonly encountered beverage in social settings, has a more intricate relationship with high uric acid levels than we might imagine. While some viewpoints suggest that alcohol can temporarily inhibit uric acid synthesis and promote uric acid excretion, this effect is only superficial, concealing deeper health hazards.
We need to understand that alcohol can indeed temporarily inhibit uric acid synthesis. This is because when alcohol metabolizes in the liver, it temporarily reduces uric acid production. However, this effect is transient and cannot fundamentally resolve high uric acid problems. More critically, prolonged excessive alcohol consumption can severely damage the liver.
The liver is a crucial organ for uric acid metabolism and excretion. When the liver is damaged, its ability to metabolize and excrete uric acid significantly declines. This suggests that uric acid, which should have been metabolized and excreted by the liver, may accumulate in the body due to weakened liver function, further aggravating high uric acid symptoms. Prolonged exposure to these conditions might lead to a series of severe health problems like gout, kidney stones, nephritis, etc.
Desserts
Desserts, a popular sweet treat, often attract people with their enticing taste and diverse varieties. However, for individuals with high uric acid levels, desserts may not be a healthy choice. Desserts typically contain substantial amounts of sugars and additives, ingredients that not only increase the risk of obesity but may also have adverse effects on uric acid metabolism and excretion.
Excessive sugar intake can raise blood sugar levels, stimulating insulin secretion. Prolonged consumption of high-sugar foods gradually leads the body to develop insulin resistance, signifying the body’s need to produce more insulin to maintain blood sugar stability. Insulin resistance is a significant feature of diabetes, and there is a close association between diabetes and high uric acid levels. Hence, consuming high-sugar foods may exacerbate high uric acid symptoms and elevate the risk of developing diabetes.
The additives in desserts should not be overlooked. These additives are usually used to enhance the taste, appearance, and shelf life of desserts. However, some additives may have negative effects on human metabolism. For instance, certain artificial sweeteners may interfere with uric acid metabolism, affecting uric acid excretion. Additionally, some preservatives might harm the kidneys, further worsening high uric acid symptoms.
What are the dangers of prolonged high uric acid levels?
Leading to the occurrence of gout
Gout is an inflammatory disease caused by the deposition of uric acid salts in joints and surrounding tissues, leading to severe pain that can make patients extremely uncomfortable.
Causing damage to the kidneys
This is because the process of uric acid excretion in the kidneys requires a significant amount of water. If uric acid concentration is too high, the kidneys need more water to dilute uric acid, thereby increasing the burden on the kidneys.
Over time, the kidneys may develop pathologies, leading to conditions like uric acid nephropathy, kidney stones, etc.
Increasing the appearance of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases
In addition, high uric acid levels are closely associated with diseases like hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, etc. Studies have shown that among individuals with high uric acid levels, the incidence of diseases such as hypertension, coronary heart disease, etc., is significantly higher compared to those with normal uric acid levels.
This is because uric acid can stimulate blood vessel walls, causing vasoconstriction, thereby increasing blood pressure; at the same time, uric acid can also promote arteriosclerosis and thrombus formation, increasing the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
High uric acid, how to excrete uric acid from the body? 4 strategies to give a try
Increasing water intake
Water is the source of life and serves as the “cleansing agent” for uric acid. Drinking plenty of water can increase urine volume, aiding in excreting uric acid with urine. It is recommended to drink at least 8 glasses of water daily, especially in summer or after exercise, water intake should be replenished promptly.
Adjusting dietary structure
The production of uric acid is closely related to diet, especially high-purine foods such as meat, seafood, etc. Reducing the intake of such foods, while increasing the intake of low-purine foods like vegetables, fruits, helps lower internal uric acid levels. Additionally, foods rich in vitamin C also contribute to uric acid excretion.
Moderate exercise
Exercise can promote metabolism, accelerate blood circulation, aiding in uric acid excretion. It is advisable to choose aerobic exercises like brisk walking, jogging, swimming, etc., and engage in them 3-5 times a week for at least 30 minutes each session. However, exercise intensity should not be excessive to prevent gout attacks.
Maintaining good lifestyle habits
Night owls, alcohol abuse, excessive stress, and other unhealthy lifestyle habits can affect uric acid excretion. Therefore, ensuring adequate sleep time, quitting smoking and limiting alcohol consumption, learning to manage stress, all contribute to lowering uric acid levels.
