Although uric acid is often talked about in the context of disease like gout, it actually has some important physiological functions too.
Uric Acid Associated Diseases and Disorders
⚗️ What is Uric Acid?
- End-product of purine metabolism (purines come from DNA/RNA breakdown and certain foods).
- Formed mainly in the liver and excreted by the kidneys and intestines.
✅ Physiological Functions of Uric Acid
1. 🛡️ Antioxidant Activity
- Major antioxidant in human plasma (accounts for up to 60% of antioxidant capacity).
- Scavenges harmful free radicals and may protect against oxidative stress in the brain, blood vessels, and tissues.
2. 🧠 Neuroprotection
- May protect neurons from oxidative damage.
- Higher (but still normal) levels are associated with lower risk of neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s (though this is still debated).
3. 🧬 Immune Function Modulation
- Plays a role in activating immune responses (e.g., in response to cell damage or infection).
- Can act as a danger signal (DAMP) that alerts the immune system to cell injury.
4. 💪 Evolutionary Advantage (Maybe)
- Humans lack the enzyme uricase, so we naturally have higher uric acid than most animals.
- Some theories suggest this gave early humans better brain protection or energy storage (fat gain) advantages during food scarcity.
⚠️ Caveat:
While uric acid has benefits, elevated levels (hyperuricemia) can lead to:
- Gout
- Kidney stones
- Cardiovascular disease risk
So, balance is key—not too high, not too low.