Uric Acid: What Your Result Means Beyond Gout
Uric acid is best known for gout, but it also tracks with metabolic health. Learn what high or low uric acid means and what raises it.
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What it is
Uric acid is the end product of purine breakdown, both from the cells your body recycles and from purine-rich foods. Kidneys clear about two-thirds of it.
It is measured in the blood as part of many metabolic panels and in a 24-hour urine collection when the cause of a high level is unclear.
Why it matters
Sustained high uric acid can crystallize in joints and cause gout, and it raises the risk of certain kidney stones.
Even without gout, elevated uric acid frequently accompanies insulin resistance, high triglycerides, high blood pressure, and fatty liver, so it is a useful metabolic signal.
Typical reference ranges
Ranges vary by lab and individual circumstances. These are common adult reference ranges for orientation only.
| Group | Common range |
|---|---|
| Men | 3.4–7.0 mg/dL |
| Women | 2.4–6.0 mg/dL |
| Gout treatment target | < 6.0 mg/dL |
| Low | < 2.0 mg/dLRarely a problem; can follow certain medications |
Not sure where your uric acid falls? Upload your lab report and Nodava marks it against the range for you.
See where you fallWhere it comes from
Purine-rich foods include organ meats, red meat, anchovies, sardines, and shellfish. Fructose-sweetened drinks and beer raise uric acid more than most people expect. Coffee, dairy, and cherries are associated with lower levels.
What can move your result
Alcohol, dehydration, rapid weight loss or fasting, thiazide diuretics and low-dose aspirin, kidney function, and genetics all move uric acid.
Frequently asked questions
Can uric acid be normal during a gout attack?
Does diet alone fix high uric acid?
Is high uric acid without symptoms treated?
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Uric Acid is just one piece of the puzzle. Nodava explains every biomarker on your report, highlights what is out of range, and helps you track changes over time.
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