Normal Levels of Uric Acid

In the human body system, uric acid is formed as a byproduct of purine metabolism, which is excreted through urine. Regarding purines, they are nitrogenous compounds present in various food items such as mushrooms, green peas, wheat bran, meat products, and fish. Chemically, uric acid is a reducing compound that is made up of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen and oxygen. It also possesses very strong antioxidant properties, which is evident from the fact that the antioxidant ability of the blood plasma is contributed by uric acid to about 50 percent.

Uric acid, synthesized in the body, is dissolved in the bloodstream, which is then circulated to the kidney. In the kidney, about 75% of uric acid is removed via urination. Failure to excrete appropriate amount of uric acid due to any bodily abnormalities can lead to severe health conditions. Taking this into consideration, it is very crucial to understand the normal uric acid levels.

Measuring Uric Acid Levels

In medical science, the measurement of uric acid levels is conducted as one of the important procedures to rule out certain underlying health conditions. The physician may recommend uric acid testing in cases like joint pain and kidney disorders. For conducting a uric acid test, the candidate should not eat or drink anything for four hours prior to collection of the blood sample. The physician may also recommend abstaining from certain medications that alter uric acid levels. For testing, a blood sample is collected either from the elbow or the back of the palm. The collected blood is then tested by laboratory specialists for uric acid levels.

Normal Levels of Uric Acid

Speaking about the normal uric acid levels, it should fall between 3.0 - 7.0 mg/dL (milligram per deciliter). This normal range of uric acid may fluctuate slightly from one laboratory to another. Low uric acid levels is rare in comparison to high levels of uric acid in the blood. Low level of uric acid can be caused due to liver malfunction, kidney diseases, frequent exposure to toxic chemicals, and also hereditary defects.

If the uric acid level is higher than the normal range, then the doctor will perform a medical examination and conduct further laboratory tests for diagnosis of the problem. High uric acid in the blood can be caused due to two primary reasons, either the body is not excreting uric acid or there is excess production of uric acid. High uric acid levels or hyperuricemia can also be resulted due to health conditions such as gout, diabetes, hypoparathyroidism, renal problems, lead poisoning, and side effects of chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

Among the reasons for hyperuricemia, gout is directly related to excess synthesis of uric acid in the body. Over a period of time, uric acid crystals are accumulated in the joints, resulting in severe pain. As high uric acid is also caused due to chemotherapy, a test for uric acid levels is performed prior to administration of chemotherapy medications or in between the sessions. Excess consumption of purine rich diet can also lead to high levels of uric acid in the blood.

According to medical studies, levels of uric acid in the blood is related to fluctuation in blood pressure. A recent study reported that reducing uric acid levels lowers blood pressure significantly. This finding has proven to be an important achievement for regulating the healthy blood pressure range in hypertension patients.

In any of the cases, either hypouricemia or hyperuricemia, the physician may advocate medications along with lifestyle modifications, especially eating and drinking habits in order to maintain normal uric acid levels in the blood. Read more on:

• Uric Acid Reduction Diet
• Foods High in Uric Acid
• Gout Diet

With this information, I hope you have cleared all your doubts about normal uric acid levels and conditions of low and high uric acid in the body.