Elevated serum uric acid--a facet of hyperinsulinaemia

In a representative sample of the adult Jewish population in Israel (n = 1016) excluding known diabetic patients and individuals on antihypertensive medications, serum uric acid showed a positive association with plasma insulin response (sum of 1- and 2-hour post glucose load levels) in both males (r = 0.316, p less than 0.001) and females (r = 0.236, p less than 0.001). This association remained statistically significant in both sexes (p less than 0.001) after accounting by multiple regression analysis for age and major correlates of serum uric acid i.e. body mass index, glucose response (sum of 1- and 2-hour post load levels), systolic blood pressure and total plasma triglycerides. The net portion of the variance of serum uric acid attributable to insulin response was 12% in males and 8% in females, the total variance accountable by all these variables being 17% and 19% respectively. We conclude that elevated serum uric acid is a feature of hyperinsulinaemia/insulin resistance.