Acarbose alleviates rise in plasma uric acid concentration induced by sucrose ingestion

Sucrose is divided by alpha-glucosidase into fructose and glucose, which are considered to raise plasma uric acid concentration through purine degradation and/or decreased uric acid excretion.

We investigated the effect of acarbose, an alpha-glucosidase inhibitor, on the increased plasma concentration of uric acid caused by sucrose.

6 healthy males were studied. After an overnight fast, sucrose at 1.5 g/kg was ingested. Urine was collected 1 hour before sucrose ingestion and then twice at 1-hour intervals after ingestion. Blood was taken twice, at the midpoint of each 1-hour period. 2 weeks later, the same protocol was followed, with acarbose at 100 mg added at the beginning of the sucrose ingestion.

Sucrose ingestion raised the plasma concentration of uric acid by 10%, whereas with the addition of acarbose the rise in plasma concentration of uric acid was reduced (p < 0.01) without changes in urinary uric acid excretion and fractional uric acid clearance. Urinary excretion and fractional clearance of oxypurines were unchanged in both experiments.

Acarbose is considered to alleviate the rise in plasma concentration of uric acid induced by sucrose by inhibiting its absorption since no changes in uric acid excretion and fractional clearance were observed.