Levels of uric acid are measured in a blood test. Since the amount of blood in women is little lesser than men, changes in composition of blood is more pronounced in women.
High uric acid is a cause of concern in general. But the effects are more pronounced in women. In this article we shall understand the role of uric acid in the body and why the levels rise.
So it is the kidneys who regulate the optimum amount of uric acid in the blood.
Is uric acid bad?
Let us first clear this part of the problem. A Google Search on uric acid is flooded with results on how to reduce uric acid level in the blood and which foods to avoid. While most of that is scientifically correct, it is facutally inaccurate.
Consider this – 90% of the uric acid is recycled by the kidneys back to the body. So if it was bad, the kidneys would not have send it back into the blood.
Endogenous purines come from dead cells of the body. Exogenous purines come from food. Both endogenous combines with exogenous purines to form uric acid. Quantity of endogenous purines is far more than exogenous considering the amount of dead cells being generated in the body every second.
Our body makes 24 lakh Red Blood Cells every second. They have a life of 100 days and an equal number are dying every second. About 70% of the cells in our body are Red Blood Cells. That is the amount of endogenous purines being created inside our body.
It is the job of the kidneys to recycle uric acid in the body. There is a balance between production and elimination of uric acid.
High uric acid level is a sign that this balance has been disturbed.
Role of uric acid in our body
We now know that uric acid is an essential cleansing mechanism of the body to extract dead cells out of the body. What Google won’t tell you, is that uric acid is a naturally produced antioxidant by the body.
Conversion of food into energy by our body is called metabolism. Each cell in our body is a powerhouse converting glucose or fat into energy. This energy production happens by a process called electron transport chain which releases ATPs as end product. During this transfer of electrons, there is a chance that an odd electron might escape. It combines with an oxygen molecule to create a free radical. This free radical now is on the lookout to grab an electron from wherever it is available. This is called oxidative stress or oxidative damage since it starts to damage cell membranes and even body tissues. The two antioxidants manufactured by the body are Glutathione and Uric Acid.
There is no doubt that uric acid is very important for the body.
We also know that kidneys are responsible for maintaining the balance between production and elimination of uric acid.
There are four main reasons which disturbs this balance.
Bad genes and certain medicines
It is the responsibility of urate transporters to move uric acid in and out of kidneys. There are a few reasons why there is disruption of uric acid or mis-function of urate transporters.
In case you have a bad gene then uric acid is a hereditary problem. In that case you should take extra precaution so that this balance is not disturbed.
Some medication is responsible for disrupting the function of urate transporters. It also causes loading of kidneys which ultimately results in disruption of uric acid elimination.
Insulin resistance and fructose consumption
Researchers have found a direct link between disruption of urate transporters and insulin resistance. The number one cause of insulin resistance is fructose. Sugars and carbs contain roughly 50% of glucose and 50% of fructose. However artificial food containing High Fructose Corn Syrup or HFCS pushes in excess fructose in the body. This fructose is send to the liver for processing. Fructose is converted to glucose and purines which are send back to the blood stream.
All this extra glucose is converted to glycogen and stored in the liver and body as visceral or subcutaneous fat. Excessive purines are converted to uric acid. But isn’t the body and kidneys supposed to flush out excess uric acid. Insulin resistance is the major reason for disruption of urate transporters which disturbs the balance.
Insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome
Insulin resistance is the first step for metabolic syndrome. If you look down and if you are not able to see your toes, chances are that you are into insulin resistance. Belly fat around the waist line resulting into a pear shaped body is the first sign of insulin resistance. If ignored that leads to fatty liver and obesity inviting more health problems. If this is your case, then it is time to meet a Metabolic Balance Consultant.
