Kong Laixi, Li Yaqin, Zhu Rong, Guo Maoting, Wu Yuqing, Zhong Yuxin, Li Zhe, Xiong Zhenzhen
School of Nursing, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
PLoS One. 2025 Jan 7;20(1):e0312235. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0312235. eCollection 2025.
Recent research suggests that uric acid, as a metabolite with antioxidant properties, may affect muscle function and health. However, the association between serum uric acid (SUA) and low muscle mass remains relatively obscure. This study focuses on the association between SUA and low muscle mass in a middle-aged and elderly population in the United States.
Utilizing data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), a total of 12,106 patients aged ≥45 years, possessing complete analytical data, were incorporated. Low muscle mass in our study is defined as indices below 0.789 for males and 0.512 for females, according to the FNIH Biomarkers Consortium. Gender stratified analyses were conducted employing a multivariate weighted logistic regression model. When examining serum uric acid (SUA) levels, the SUA dataset was stratified into deciles, and odds ratios (ORs) were calculated across distinct subgroups of males and females. A restricted cubic spline (RCS) method was employed to investigate the potential nonlinear association between SUA levels and low muscle mass. A series of subgroup analyses stratified by demographic variables and clinical experience were conducted.
A total of 2,185 participants (18.05%) were identified with low muscle mass, comprising 1,121 males and 1,064 females. Females with low muscle mass had higher SUA levels and an increased incidence of hyperuricemia compared to those without low muscle mass. In females, a fully adjusted multivariable weighted regression model revealed a positive association between hyperuricemia and low muscle mass (OR, 1.43; 95% CI, 1.06 to 1.92; P = 0.021). No significant association was observed in males. Additionally, RCS curves indicated a J-shaped relationship between increasing SUA levels and the risk of low muscle mass in females, and an inverse J-shaped relationship in males.
This study reveals a significant positive correlation between hyperuricemia and the risk of low muscle mass in middle-aged and older women in the United States, whereas the relationship between SUA levels and low muscle mass did not attain statistical significance. In the male cohort, neither SUA levels nor hyperuricemia demonstrated a significant association with low muscle mass.
近期研究表明，尿酸作为一种具有抗氧化特性的代谢产物，可能会影响肌肉功能和健康。然而，血清尿酸（SUA）与低肌肉量之间的关联仍相对模糊。本研究聚焦于美国中老年人群中SUA与低肌肉量之间的关联。
利用国家健康与营养检查调查（NHANES）的数据，纳入了总共12106名年龄≥45岁且拥有完整分析数据的患者。根据美国国立卫生研究院（NIH）生物标志物联盟的标准，本研究中低肌肉量定义为男性指数低于0.789，女性指数低于0.512。采用多变量加权逻辑回归模型进行性别分层分析。在检查血清尿酸（SUA）水平时，将SUA数据集分为十分位数，并计算不同男性和女性亚组的比值比（OR）。采用受限立方样条（RCS）方法研究SUA水平与低肌肉量之间的潜在非线性关联。进行了一系列按人口统计学变量和临床经验分层的亚组分析。
总共2185名参与者（18.05%）被确定为低肌肉量，其中男性1121名，女性1064名。与非低肌肉量女性相比，低肌肉量女性的SUA水平更高，高尿酸血症发病率增加。在女性中，经过充分调整的多变量加权回归模型显示高尿酸血症与低肌肉量之间存在正相关（OR，1.43；95%CI，1.06至1.92；P = 0.021）。在男性中未观察到显著关联。此外，RCS曲线表明，女性中SUA水平升高与低肌肉量风险之间呈J形关系，男性中呈倒J形关系。
本研究揭示了美国中老年女性中高尿酸血症与低肌肉量风险之间存在显著正相关，而SUA水平与低肌肉量之间的关系未达到统计学显著性。在男性队列中，SUA水平和高尿酸血症均未显示与低肌肉量存在显著关联。
