Rafael O Alvim1, Jordana H Siqueira1, Divanei Zaniqueli2, Deyse M Dutra3, Polyana R Oliosa3, José G Mill4. 1. Postgraduate Program in Public Health, Federal University of Espírito Santo (UFES), Vitória, ES, Brazil. 2. Department of Physiological Sciences, Federal University of Espírito Santo (UFES), Vitória, ES, Brazil. Electronic address: divozaniqueli@hotmail.com. 3. Postgraduate Program in Nutrition and Health, Federal University of Espírito Santo (UFES), Vitória, ES, Brazil. 4. Postgraduate Program in Public Health, Federal University of Espírito Santo (UFES), Vitória, ES, Brazil; Department of Physiological Sciences, Federal University of Espírito Santo (UFES), Vitória, ES, Brazil.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIM: Uric acid (UA) is an end-product of purine catabolism and its increase in blood is a risk factor for several diseases. UA levels in men are usually higher than in women. This difference is partially due to sex hormones. We sought to investigate the onset of sexual difference in UA levels during pubertal development and the determinants of UA levels in children and adolescents. METHODS AND RESULTS: The muscle mass and fat mass were measured by multi-frequency bioelectrical impedance in a cross-sectional study involving 823 children and adolescents (both sexes; 6-18 years). Serum UA was determined using a commercially available kit. UA levels started to become higher in boys (5.0 ± 1.0 mg/dL) than in girls (4.1 ± 0.9 mg/dL) around 13 years. Boys in the highest quartile of muscle mass presented higher UA levels (5.2 ± 0.7 mg/dL) when compared with the third (4.2 ± 0.7 mg/dL), second (3.7 ± 0.9 mg/dL) and first (3.4 ± 0.9 mg/dL). Similarly, girls in the highest quartile of muscle mass presented higher UA levels (4.2 ± 0.7 mg/dL) when compared with the second (3.8 ± 0.9 mg/dL) and first (3.3 ± 0.9 mg/dL). Muscle mass explained 43.0% and 7.7% of the variability of UA in boys and girls, respectively. CONCLUSION: Sexual differences in serum UA levels begin at puberty and partially result from a direct influence of muscle mass.
BACKGROUND AND AIM: Uric acid (UA) is an end-product of purine catabolism and its increase in blood is a risk factor for several diseases. UA levels in men are usually higher than in women. This difference is partially due to sex hormones. We sought to investigate the onset of sexual difference in UA levels during pubertal development and the determinants of UA levels in children and adolescents. METHODS AND RESULTS: The muscle mass and fat mass were measured by multi-frequency bioelectrical impedance in a cross-sectional study involving 823 children and adolescents (both sexes; 6-18 years). Serum UA was determined using a commercially available kit. UA levels started to become higher in boys (5.0 ± 1.0 mg/dL) than in girls (4.1 ± 0.9 mg/dL) around 13 years. Boys in the highest quartile of muscle mass presented higher UA levels (5.2 ± 0.7 mg/dL) when compared with the third (4.2 ± 0.7 mg/dL), second (3.7 ± 0.9 mg/dL) and first (3.4 ± 0.9 mg/dL). Similarly, girls in the highest quartile of muscle mass presented higher UA levels (4.2 ± 0.7 mg/dL) when compared with the second (3.8 ± 0.9 mg/dL) and first (3.3 ± 0.9 mg/dL). Muscle mass explained 43.0% and 7.7% of the variability of UA in boys and girls, respectively. CONCLUSION: Sexual differences in serum UA levels begin at puberty and partially result from a direct influence of muscle mass.
Authors: Valter Paulo Neves Miranda; Paulo Roberto Dos Santos Amorim; Ronaldo Rocha Bastos; Karina Lúcia Ribeiro Canabrava; Márcio Vidigal Miranda Júnior; Fernanda Rocha Faria; Sylvia do Carmo Castro Franceschini; Maria do Carmo Gouveia Peluzio; Silvia Eloiza Priore Journal: Mediators Inflamm Date: 2020-07-09 Impact factor: 4.711