Fasting Single-Spot Urine pH Is Associated with Metabolic Syndrome in the Japanese Population.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the relationship between urine pH and metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its components, while controlling for covariates.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

This cross-sectional study was conducted on 5,430 Japanese subjects (4,691 without MetS; 739 with MetS) undergoing health assessments. Partial correlation analysis and analysis of covariance were used for controlling confounding parameters (age, gender, levels of serum uric acid and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, estimated glomerular filtration rate, and smoking and drinking status). Using multiple logistic regression analyses, adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for MetS incidence were calculated across urine pH categories. Path analysis was used to determine the relationship between MetS and urine pH.

RESULTS

Subjects with MetS had significantly lower urine pH (5.9 ± 0.7) than those without MetS (6.0 ± 0.7) (p < 0.001). Partial correlation analysis showed that systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and triglyceride and fasting plasma glucose levels were negatively correlated with urine pH, while high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was positively correlated with urine pH. Analysis of covariance indicated that urine pH decreased with an increasing number of metabolic abnormalities. Adjusted ORs (95% CI) for the presence of MetS in subjects with urine pH 5.5-6.0 and pH <5.5 were 1.34 (1.04-1.73) and 1.52 (1.09-2.13), respectively (reference: subjects with a urine pH >6.0).

CONCLUSION

The MetS and its components were independently associated with lower urine pH.