The association between serum ferritin and uric acid in humans.
OBJECTIVE
Urate forms a coordination complex with Fe(3+) which does not support electron transport. The only enzymatic source of urate is xanthine oxidoreductase. If a major purpose of xanthine oxidoreductase is the production of urate to function as an iron chelator and antioxidant, a system for coupling the activity of this enzyme to the availability of catalytically-active metal would be required. We tested the hypothesis that there is an association between iron availability and urate production in healthy humans by correlating serum concentrations of ferritin with uric acid levels.


METHODS
The study population included 4932 females and 4794 males in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III. They were 20 years of age or older and in good health.


RESULTS
Serum concentrations of ferritin correlated positively with uric acid levels in healthy individuals (R(2) = 0.41, p<0.001). This association was independent of an effect of gender, age, race/ethnic group, body mass, and alcohol consumption.


CONCLUSIONS
The relationship between serum ferritin and uric acid predicts hyperuricemia and gout in groups with iron accumulation. This elevation in the production of uric acid with increased concentrations of iron could possibly reflect a response of the host to diminish the oxidative stress presented by available metal as the uric acid assumes the empty or loosely bound coordination sites of the iron to diminish electron transport and subsequent oxidant generation.
Ghio
Andrew J
AJ
National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Office of Research and Development, Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA. ghio.andy@epa.gov
Ford
Earl S
ES
Kennedy
Thomas P
TP
Hoidal
John R
JR
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D019190:Iron Overload / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D011159:Population Surveillance; D014481:United States; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000097:blood*
D014527:Uric Acid; D005293:Ferritins