Examination of sex differences in uric acid and electrolyte excretion

Abstract

We previously identified a positive correlation between the uric acid/creatinine ratio and salt intake in both men and women in cases with untreated serum uric acid levels, but a significant positive correlation between urinary pH and potassium excretion only in women, suggesting the presence of sex differences in urinary excretion mechanisms. In this study, we analyzed the relationship between uric acid excretion and changes in electrolyte excretion in men and women. The results showed that the correlations between the urinary UA/Cr ratio and urinary Na/Cr ratio, urinary Na/Cr ratio and urinary pH, and urinary K/Cr ratio and urinary pH changes were significant in both sexes, but the relationship between the urinary Na/Cr ratio and urinary K/Cr ratio changes was significant in female but not male cases. We consider that one possible factor leading to a sex difference in uric acid excretion is a sex difference in the regulation of urinary Na and urinary K.