Association of Serum Uric Acid with Chronic Diseases

Abstract

Uric acid occurs widely in nature in the form of its salts.  It is found in plants as well as in animals.  It is a white or yellowish white, odorless and tasteless substance, which may assume crystal or powder form. 

The normal daily excretion of uric acid is 0.2-3.0 grams.  However, this may vary with diet and pathological conditions such as gout.  It is also present in the blood and, like many other substances; it is in dynamic equilibrium within the human body.  Unfortunately, this equilibrium may change and result in elevated levels of uric acid in the blood, a condition known as hyperuricemia.  Such condition has an important association with chronic illnesses in adults.  These include gout, diabetes, arteriosclerosis, coronary heart diseases, renal diseases and several others. 

This review article explains such associations and shows that hyperuricemia and obesity are associated with each other as well as with several other disorders in adulthood.