How much does fat mass change affect serum uric acid levels among apparently clinically healthy Korean men?

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to examine the impact of fat mass alteration on serum uric acid (SUA) levels in apparently clinically healthy men.

METHODS

We evaluated 27,387 men who consecutively underwent health check ups between 2015 and 2017. We assessed the likelihood of achieving a SUA level of <0.41 mmol/L and compared the SUA levels according to fat mass changes.

RESULTS

Compared with those without fat mass change (the reference group), the odds ratios (95% confidence interval) of achieving a SUA level of <0.41 mmol/L for fat mass decreases of ⩾2.5, 1.5-2.5, and 0.5-1.5 kg were 1.63 (1.45-1.82), 1.19 (1.06-1.34), and 1.07 (0.97-1.18), respectively, while those for a fat mass increase of ⩾2.5, 1.5-2.5, and 0.5-1.5 kg were 0.71 (0.64-0.78), 0.87 (0.79-0.97), and 0.95 (0.86-1.04), respectively. The corresponding beta-coefficients of SUA levels (mmol/L) were -0.26 [-0.29-(-0.23)], -0.12 [-0.16-(-0.09)], and -0.09 [-0.12-(-0.06)] for fat mass decreases of ⩾2.5, 1.5-2.5, and 0.5-1.5 kg, respectively. Every 1-kg fat mass reduction was associated with 9% increased odds of achieving the target SUA level. The multivariate SUA level difference per 1-kg fat mass gain was 2.97 µmol/L. Similar levels of association persisted among the prespecified subgroups.

CONCLUSION

We quantitatively demonstrated that fat mass reduction contributes to a clinically relevant decrease in SUA levels and a significant increase in the likelihood of achieving target SUA levels. Our findings may help to provide clear clinical guidance on fat mass alteration to reduce SUA levels in patients with hyperuricemia.