TY  - JOUR
AU  - McMullen, Michael K.
PY  - 2018
DA  - 2018/09/28
TI  - Fructose Increases Uric Acid Contributing to Metabolic Syndrome - Herbal, Nutritional and Dietary Strategies to Reduce Uric Acid
JO  - OBM Integrative and Complementary Medicine
SP  - 022
VL  - 03
IS  - 03
AB  - The metabolism of fructose by the liver produces uric acid and elevated serum uric acid levels are an independent risk factor for hypertension, metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular disease. Fructose occurs in fruits and fruit juices, honey as well as in the sweeteners sucrose (common white sugar) and High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS). Dietary fructose may be considered a naturally occurring toxin because it is largely metabolised by the liver with little fructose reaching the systemic blood circulation. Uric acid is potentially toxic, as are several other molecules produced during fructose metabolism. The amount of uric acid released depends on the amount of fructose ingested, regardless of source of the fructose, i.e. whether artificial sweetener, fruit juice or whole fruit. Two-thirds of the daily production of uric acid is excreted by the kidneys in urine with the remainder is excreted by the small intestine (third kidney) in the digestive juices. It is to be expected that herbalists would have developed effective treatments for gout (resulting from elevated serum uric acid) as the symptoms are obvious, yet it may come as a surprise that these same herbs may also have a role in the treatment of the metabolic syndrome. This article reviews traditional and evidence-based herbal treatments for the reduction of uric acid together with modern nutritional treatments. Diet is also discussed, and food tables are presented which may be used either to avoid or treat elevated serum uric acid. Hopefully this information will also be of interest to clinicians and researchers new to this area.
SN  - 2573-4393
UR  - https://doi.org/10.21926/obm.icm.1803022
DO  - 10.21926/obm.icm.1803022
ID  - McMullen2018
ER  -