Association of Uric Acid with Incident Metabolic Syndrome in a Japanese General Population

Abstract

Uric acid is associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and its risk factors. Here, we examined the association between the serum uric acid level and incident metabolic syndrome in a Japanese general population. This retrospective, observational study was based on data obtained from an annual health checkup program in Gunma Prefecture, Japan. We evaluated 14,793 participants who did not use antihypertensive or antidiabetic medications and did not present with CVD or metabolic syndrome at the study baseline in 2009. Metabolic syndrome was defined as per the Japanese diagnostic criteria. A discrete proportional hazards regression model was used to evaluate the association between the serum uric acid level at baseline and the incident metabolic syndrome through 2012 and was adjusted for age, gender, waist circumference, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglyceride. At baseline, the average age of the participants was 48.9 years, who were comprised of 40% women. The mean serum uric acid level at baseline was 5.3 ± 1.4 mg/dL. During the three-year follow-up, 7% of the cohort (n = 1,031) developed metabolic syndrome. The uric acid level was strongly associated with incident metabolic syndrome in the multivariable model (adjusted hazard ratio: 1.10; 95% confidence interval, 1.04-1.17; P < 0.01 per 1 mg/dL increase for uric acid). Higher uric acid levels were independently associated with a greater risk of incident metabolic syndrome in a Japanese general population.

Association between Serum Uric Acid and Metabolic Syndrome in Koreans

“…Second, this study shows that an association exists between serum uric acid level and metabolic syndrome, but its cross-sectional design preempts any conclusions regarding causality. Recent studies have shown the links between serum uric acid and its longitudinal effects on the incidence of metabolic syndrome,2728 but their inconsistent results raised the question regarding whether uric acid levels are risk or protective factors of metabolic syndrome. More longitudinal studies should be conducted to examine the links.…”

27‐Hydroxycholesterol regulates human SLC22A12 gene expression through estrogen receptor action

“…Elevated levels of serum uric acid have been reported as a risk factor for various diseases such as gout, renal diseases, and cardiovascular diseases. [1][2][3][4][5] Increased serum uric acid levels also trigger vascular endothelial dysfunction, which leads to metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular diseases. [6][7][8][9][10][11] Obesity, insulin resistance, aging, and hormonal imbalance are risk factors for metabolic diseases, [12][13][14][15] of which obesity is associated with hypercholesterolemia 16,17 and hyperuricemia.…”

“…Elevated levels of serum uric acid have been reported as a risk factor for various diseases such as gout, renal diseases, and cardiovascular diseases 1‐5 . Increased serum uric acid levels also trigger vascular endothelial dysfunction, which leads to metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular diseases 6‐11 .…”

Gender Difference in the Association Between Serum Uric Acid Level and Metabolic Syndrome and Components: A Cross-Sectional Analysis Among Chinese Young Adults

“…In a survey of 234 male seafarers, SUA levels was associated with MetS and high TG 34 . Studies on the association between SUA levels and dyslipidemia were primarily conducted in elderly or middle-aged adults even though the results were controversial [35][36][37] . However, these results were likely to be disturbed by other confounding factors, such as chronic cardiovascular diseases and long-term medication.…”