Changes in alcohol consumption did not affect changes in serum uric acid level in Japanese

Abstract

 Objective Serum uric acid (UA) is associated with obesity, insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome components, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and renal function. Alcohol is a risk factor for hyperuricemia and gout. Whether changes in alcohol consumption are associated with changes in serum UA levels and factors affecting changes in UA levels remain unclear.

 Methods Subjects were 5,327 Japanese who underwent two annual health examinations (mean interval, 2.7 years). They were stratified according to changes in serum UA levels and alcohol consumption.

 Results The change in body mass index, waist circumference (WC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), UA, aspartate transaminase (AST), and alanine transaminase gradually increased as changes in UA increased for both men and women. In men, the proportion of subjects who consumed ≥ 25 g ethanol/day in the ≥ 0.3 mg/dL UA change group was not particularly higher than that of in non-drinker (17.4% versus 19.7%) at baseline. In women, the proportion of subjects who consumed ≥ 25 g ethanol/day in the ≥ 0.3 mg/dL UA change group was lower than that of in non-drinker (19.3% versus 17.8%) at baseline. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that changes in WC, LDL-C, triglyceride, AST and γ-glutamyltranspeptidase were associated with changes in UA. When changes in serum UA levels stratified by changes in UA levels and alcohol consumption were investigated, changes in alcohol consumption did not affect UA level changes; however, regardless of alcohol consumption change, anthropometric measures, lipid levels, renal function, and transaminases were worse in the increased UA level group. Subjects who increased alcohol consumption and had increased UA levels showed the worst anthropometry, BP, lipid levels, UA and transaminases changes.

 Conclusion Changes in UA level correlated with changes in anthropometry, lipid levels, renal function, and transaminases. Changes in alcohol consumption did not affect changes in UA level; however, subjects who increased alcohol consumption and had increased UA levels had the worst metabolic profile changes.