Serum uric acid levels and metabolic syndrome

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship among serum uric acid levels and metabolic syndrome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Anthropometric parameters, serum uric acid and metabolic parameters were evaluated in 139 subjects. RESULTS: Serum uric acid levels were significantly higher in subjects with than without metabolic syndrome (p < 0.0001), and raised gradually with the increasing number of metabolic syndrome components (p for trend < 0.0001). Serum uric acid significantly correlated with various anthropometric and serum metabolic parameters. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Serum uric acid levels were higher in individuals with rather than without metabolic syndrome and raised gradually as the number of metabolic syndrome components increased. The relationship between serum uric acid levels and various metabolic parameters suggests that uric acid might be considered as a component of metabolic syndrome. CONTEXT: Hyperuricemia is a common finding in patients with the metabolic syndrome. Recent studies indicated that hyperuricemia may be also a predictor of metabolic syndrome development.