Uric Acid — Metabolic + Gout Marker
Uric acid is made when the body breaks down purines. A high blood level (hyperuricemia) can cause gout, kidney stones or kidney disease.
Uric acid is the chemical the body makes when it breaks down purines, and a high blood level (hyperuricemia) can cause gout, kidney stones or kidney disease. Read it against your lab's reference range, which differs for women and men.
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Uric acid is the number that answers to fructose and alcohol faster than almost anything else on the panel.
Transcript & sources → All videosMr. Age is AgeGen's editorial character. Facts come from the protocol above.
The biomarker
- Name: Uric Acid (Serum)
- Units: mg/dL
- Standard reference range (per MedlinePlus): 3.0–7.1 (women); 4.0–8.6 (men). Ranges vary by lab.
How to read your result
| Value | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| Within the lab's range | Within the reference range |
| Above the lab's range | Hyperuricemia — the body makes too much uric acid or the kidneys do not remove enough; high levels can cause gout, kidney stones or kidney disease. Discuss with your clinician. |
| Below the lab's range | Discuss with your clinician. |
What to do with the result
- Diet. Uric acid is made when the body breaks down purines, which are found in some foods and drinks, including liver, anchovies, mackerel, red meat, shellfish, dried beans and peas, and beer.
- Clinician review. If you have had a gout attack or a kidney stone, discuss your uric acid result with your clinician.
Why ask for it
- It helps diagnose gout, usually together with an analysis of joint fluid.
- It may be ordered when there are signs of a kidney stone, to check whether uric acid is involved.
Related protocols
- Urine ACR — Albumin-to-Creatinine Kidney Marker
- SHBG — Sex Hormone Binding Globulin
- HbA1c — Three-Month Glucose Average
Sources
AgeGen lab guides are educational only. We do not provide medical diagnosis, prescribe brands, or recommend specific doses. Talk to a licensed clinician before changing your supplement or medication routine.
