[Uric acid predicts type 2 diabetes mellitus in the general population].
BACKGROUND
Abnormal uric acid levels are considered by some to be a risk factor for metabolic disorders, whereas others consider it to be just a marker. We therefore examined the association between plasma uric acid concentrations and the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus.


METHODS
We undertook a prospective, 8-year study of 411 persons from the general population with no carbohydrate metabolism disorder at the start of the study evaluated by oral glucose overload. The following variables were measured at the beginning and end of the study: uric acid, triglycerides, cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, glucose and insulin in plasma, body mass index and waist-to-hip ratio. The participants were classified according to their plasma uric acid concentration, with a cut-off at the 33rd percentile (men, 291.45 and women, 208.18 micromol/l).


RESULTS
Participants with plasma uric acid concentrations above the 33rd percentile at the start of the study had worse lipid and anthropometric profiles. These persons were at greater risk for carbohydrate disorder at the end of the 8- year follow-up study (relative risk, 1.73; 95% confidence interval, 1.04-2.8). No significant differences were found in age or in the remaining variables studied between these two groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Increased uric acid levels in response to a possible chronic increase in oxidative stress may predict future disorders or complications such as type 2 diabetes in otherwise healthy persons.
Cardona
Fernando
F
CIBER de Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición. CB06/03. Instituto de Salud Carlos III. CIBEROBN. Servicio de Endocrinología y Nutrición. HCU Virgen de la Victoria. Málaga. España; Fundación IMABIS. Málaga. España.
Rojo-Martínez
Gemma
G
de la Cruz Almaraz
María
M
Soriguer
Federico
F
García-Fuentes
Eduardo
E
Tinahones
Francisco José
FJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000886:Anthropometry; D015415:Biomarkers; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D018149:Glucose Intolerance / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D011236:Prediabetic State / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000097:blood*; D055815:Young Adult
D015415:Biomarkers; D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; D008055:Lipids; D014527:Uric Acid