Adults with low blood uric acid levels may be at higher risk of having low skeletal muscle mass

Adults with low blood uric acid levels may be at higher risk of having low skeletal muscle mass

New research published in Arthritis & Rheumatology suggests that adults with low blood levels of uric acid, a breakdown product of metabolism, may be at higher risk of having low skeletal muscle mass and strength and may be at higher risk of early death.

The study used 1999-2006 data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Among 13,979 participants ages 20 and older, low blood uric acid concentrations were associated with low lean mass, underweight body mass index, and greater weight loss. Low blood uric acid levels were associated with a 61% higher risk of death (through 2015) before adjusting for body composition, but the risk was not significant after adjusting for body composition and weight loss.

These observations support what many have suspected, namely that people with low serum urate levels have higher mortality and worse outcomes, not because low urate levels are bad for health, but because low urate levels are more likely to occur in sicker people who have lost weight and have unfavorable body composition."

Joshua F. Baker MD, MSCE, lead author of the study, University of Pennsylvania

“Although this observational study does not disprove a causal relationship, it does suggest that great care is needed when interpreting epidemiological associations between uric acid levels and health outcomes.”

Source:

Wiley

Reference:

Baker, J.F., et al. (2022) Associations between low serum urate, body composition and mortality. Arthritis & Rheumatology. doi.org/10.1002/art.42301.

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