[Lack of effect of alcohol on uric acid metabolism]

Six healthy men received a purine-free formula diet. Uric acid was measured from day to day in blood and urine. After an adaptation period of five days, six apparently healthy volunteers received ethanol in a dosage of 1.22 g/kg bw for the next five days. The subjects drank the ethanol between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. In the beginning the uric acid concentration in blood was 5.3 +/- 1.1 mg/dl. After five days of testing the uric acid concentration was 5.6 +/- 1.2 mg/dl (n.s.). No alterations of uric acid elimination during day (7 a.m. and 7 p.m.) and night (7 p.m. and 7 a.m.) was observed. Uric acid clearance remained constant. The total uric acid elimination rate was 568 +/- 133 mg/d during the adaptation period. After ethanol consumption the uric acid elimination was 682 +/- 66 mg/d (n.s.). The tested ethanol consumption of 100 g/d thus resulted in no significant alterations.