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Relationship between blood uric acid level and personality traits
1School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Japan.
Acta Geneticae Medicae Et Gemellologiae
|January 1, 1990
Summary
Blood uric acid levels show a genetic influence on human behavior, particularly "general activity." Higher uric acid levels correlate with increased activity, suggesting a shared genetic control for both traits.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral genetics
- Human physiology
Background:
- Blood uric acid levels vary between sexes and with age.
- Previous research suggests a link between uric acid and activity levels.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the genetic basis of blood uric acid levels.
- To explore the relationship between blood uric acid and personality traits.
- To determine if genetic factors influence both uric acid levels and behavior.
Main Methods:
- Studied 37 monozygotic (MZ) and 7 dizygotic (DZ) twins aged 18-45.
- Standardized blood uric acid levels by age and sex using regression analysis.
- Administered the Yatabe-Guilford (YG) character test to assess 12 personality traits.
- Calculated intraclass correlation coefficients to assess genetic heritability.
Main Results:
- Blood uric acid levels demonstrated significant genetic control in MZ twins (r=0.370, P<0.05).
- "General activity" personality trait showed higher genetic than environmental influence.
- Significant correlations were found between standardized uric acid levels and "Lack of agreeableness" and "Rhathymia" traits.
Conclusions:
- Blood uric acid levels are genetically influenced.
- Plasma uric acid levels and broader activity traits are under shared genetic control.
- Findings support the view that individuals with higher uric acid levels tend to be more active.