Sugar can also increase uric acid

Besides proteins, a high intake of sugar can also increase uric acid levels in men. Uric acid is a natural substance produced in the body by the breakdown of proteins and excreted in urine. High serum uric acid can be a possible risk factor for high blood pressure, heart and vascular disease, as well as metabolic syndrome - a cluster of risk factors, such as high blood pressure, obesity and high blood sugar levels, that together increase the likelihood of developing heart problems or diabetes. Gout could also develop if excess uric acid crystals form as a result of hyperuricaemia, and men are ten times more commonly affected than women. Until now, no study has investigated whether sugar added to foods or sugar-sweetened beverages, which are major sources of fructose, are associated with blood uric acid levels in healthy people. To assess the effect of dietary sugar on high serum uric acid, researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts examined dietary data on 4,073 men and women participating in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2001-2002. The results indicated that subjects with the highest added sugar intake relative to those with lowest intake had significantly higher serum uric acid concentrations, after adjustment for potential confounding factors. Similarly, subjects with the highest intake of sweetened drinks also had significantly higher serum uric acid compared to those in the lowest intake category. It was found that gender significantly affected this association. A significant association was observed between greater intake of added sugar or sweetened drinks and plasma uric acid among men but not among women. High uric acid, also known as hyperuricaemia, induced by fructose or fruit sugar can have a causal role in metabolic syndrome, high blood pressure, and other chronic diseases. Thus, to prevent high uric acid levels, one needs to reduce the intake of sugar.