Uric acid is a naturally occurring compound in the body, formed from nitrogen in our tissues. As a normal metabolic waste product, it's primarily excreted through urine. However, elimination efficiency often declines with age, leading to elevated blood levels that can trigger serious conditions like gout, inflammatory arthritis, or kidney stones.
Uric acid results from the breakdown of purines—key molecules essential for cell renewal via DNA (chromosome building blocks) and RNA (protein synthesis support).
The body routinely eliminates this waste through the kidneys into urine. Issues emerge when excretion falters. Diagnosis involves a fasting blood test or a morning urine analysis.
Normal blood levels range from 30-70 mg per liter. Hyperuricemia—excess uric acid—is confirmed above 70 mg/L in men or 65 mg/L in women. This promotes sodium urate crystal formation, disrupting kidney function and inflaming joints.
Levels rise more readily with age due to slower excretion, but contributing factors include poor diet, heavy alcohol use, inactivity, obesity, family history, and diabetes.
Gout, an inflammatory joint disease, stems from uric acid crystals depositing around joints—commonly the big toe or elbow, but potentially others—sparking intense "gout attacks." These sudden, severe pains often strike at night, mainly affecting men over 40.
Without treatment, chronic excess leads to tophi: hard, irreversible deposits on joints.
Surplus uric acid also risks kidney stones, as crystals clump together, especially in acidic urine. Aging exacerbates this by slowing kidney function and acidifying urine, heightening stone formation after age 60. In severe cases, stones can obstruct the kidneys.
