title: Uric acid and endothelial function in elderly community-dwelling subjects.
abstract: The role of serum uric acid (SUA), an inflammatory agent and potential mediator of cardiovascular diseases, in endothelial function (EF) has been tested only in middle-aged subjects affected by specific diseases. Our aim was to assess the relationship between SUA and measures of EF in a cohort of elderly community-dwellers. This study involved 424 males and 426 females aged 70years from the Prospective Study of the Vasculature in Uppsala Seniors (PIVUS), having complete data on SUA and EF assessed by flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD) and by intra-arterial infusion of acetylcholine (endothelium-dependent vasodilation, EDV) and sodium nitroprusside (endothelium-independent vasodilation, EIDV). Univariate and multivariate regression models obtained by backward selection from initial fully-adjusted models were built to assess the relationship between SUA and measures of EF in both genders. Cardiovascular risk factors, serum hormonal and metabolic mediators, and body composition were considered as potential confounders. In the univariate model, SUA was inversely associated in both genders with log(EDV) (β±SE males -0.39±0.17, p=0.03; females -0.57±0.19, p=0.003) and log(EIDV) (males -0.23±0.12, p=0.05; females -0.49±0.15, p=0.002), but not with log(FMD). After adjustment for BMI, only the association between SUA and log(EIDV) in females persisted, though attenuated (-0.32±0.16, p=0.049), and was no longer significant in the fully-adjusted multivariate model including waist/hip ratio. In conclusion, in older subjects, especially women, SUA is associated with EF not independently of a list of confounders including BMI and trunk fat mass, suggesting a role as surrogate metabolic marker rather than an active player in EF.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Parma, Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ticinesi
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Parma, Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Fulvio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lauretani
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Parma, Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Gian Paolo
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Ceda
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: Carmelinda
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ruggiero
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Branch, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, United States.
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ferrucci
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Clinical Chemistry and Hematology, University Hospital of Parma, Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Rosalia
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Aloe
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Larsson
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Tommy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cederholm
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lind
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Parma, Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Tiziana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Meschi
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Parma, Parma, Italy. Electronic address: marcellomaggio2001@yahoo.it.
authors.forename: Marcello
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maggio
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000187:drug effects; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009599:Nitroprusside / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D013548:Sweden; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000097:blood*; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D009599:Nitroprusside; D014527:Uric Acid; D000109:Acetylcholine
keywords: Aging; Endothelium; Metabolism; Nitric oxide; Vasodilation