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Published on: March 21, 2020
Low plasma uric acid level in Parkinson's disease
Tua Annanmaki1, Antti Muuronen, Kari Murros
1Department of Neurology of Jorvi Hospital, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
Summary
Parkinson's disease (PD) patients have lower plasma uric acid levels, a potential risk factor. Uric acid strongly correlated with serum ferritin, suggesting a link with iron metabolism in PD.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Biochemistry
- Metabolic Disorders
Background:
- Low plasma uric acid levels have been implicated as a potential risk factor for Parkinson's disease (PD).
- Uric acid is known to interact with iron-binding proteins, suggesting a connection with iron metabolism.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate plasma uric acid levels in Parkinson's disease patients compared to healthy controls.
- To examine markers of peripheral iron metabolism in relation to uric acid levels in PD.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study involving 40 PD patients and 29 healthy controls.
- Clinical screening, laboratory testing for plasma uric acid and iron parameters, and body mass index (BMI) measurement.
- Dietary intake, including foodstuffs and dairy products, was assessed.
Main Results:
- Plasma uric acid levels were significantly lower in PD patients than in controls.
- No significant differences were observed in plasma iron parameters between groups.
- A strong positive correlation was found between plasma uric acid and serum ferritin in both PD patients and controls.
- PD patients had a slightly lower BMI despite comparable daily calorie consumption.
Conclusions:
- Reduced plasma uric acid levels are a characteristic finding in Parkinson's disease.
- The strong correlation with serum ferritin suggests a potential role for iron metabolism dysregulation in PD.
- These findings may have implications for understanding PD pathogenesis and developing future treatment strategies.
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