Effect of Oral Purines on Serum and Urinary Uric Acid of Normal, Hyperuricemic and Gouty Humans

Adenine, guanine, hypoxanthine, xanthine, adenosine-5′-monophosphate (AMP), guanosine-5′-monophosphate (GMP), and inosine-5′-monophosphate (IMP) were given in single oral doses at 0.1 mmoles/kg body weight to normouricemic, hyperuricemic and gouty humans, and serum and urinary uric acid levels were monitored to evaluate the effect of dietary purines on serum and urinary uric acid. Oral hypoxanthine, AMP, GMP, IMP and adenine elevated serum uric acid levels while guanine and xanthine did not affect serum uric acid. Hypoxanthine, AMP, GMP and IMP produced a greater hyperuricemic effect on subjects with gout compared with hyperuricemic and normouricemic controls. Urinary uric acid levels were increased equally by all purines except for guanine, which did not alter urine uric acid levels. The effect of oral purines on urinary uric acid levels was the same for all groups of subjects. Although the purines are closely related compounds biochemically, they are metabolized differently and produce different alterations in uric acid metabolism when administered to normal, hyperuricemic and gouty humans.