The relationship of serum uric acid to subclinical blood lead

Subclinical blood lead (less than 2.90 micro mol/l, i.e. 60 micro g/dl) and serum uric acid (SUA) levels were monitored in 318 Black males (aged 20 to 60 years). No statistically significant relationship between the two biological parameters was observed but SUA and age were correlated (r = 0.145). On subdividing the total study population into hostel and township groups, the latter demonstrated a significantly higher (P less than 0.01) mean SUA level. This could be explained by the increased sophistication, relative to the hostel group, of the latter's lifestyle.