Uric acid (urate)

A waste product in the blood that, when high, can cause gout and tracks with metabolic risk.

What it measures

The concentration of uric acid, a breakdown product of purines (from food and normal cell turnover), in your blood.

Why it matters

High uric acid can crystallise in joints (gout) and is associated with high blood pressure and metabolic problems, though its causal role there is debated.

Healthy target

< 360 µmol/L

How to read your value

Levels swing with diet, alcohol and hydration. A high value without symptoms usually doesn’t need drug treatment, but is worth acting on through diet if it recurs.

What can affect it

• Alcohol (especially beer)
• Sugary drinks and high-fructose intake
• Red meat and shellfish (purines)
• Dehydration
• Some diuretic medications raise it

Does the target differ by age or sex?

Differs by sex: men run higher than women, and women’s levels rise after menopause. Gout risk tracks the absolute level either way.

When to talk to a clinician

Recurrent gout, kidney stones, or very high levels should be assessed by a clinician.