Uric acid plays a role in the normal functioning of the human body. Deviations of its level from the norm up or down can serve as impetuses for the development of various pathologies. If the analysis shows that uric acid in the blood is low, the causes and symptoms of this disorder are of interest to many people. In this article, we will try to highlight the prerequisites for their occurrence.
What is uric acid
The acid was first found in urine and urinary stones. It is a product of the breakdown of purines, which are necessary for the flow of vital processes in the human body. This organic acid can be called nitrogenous slag.
Uric acid is primarily produced by the liver and excess is excreted by the kidneys. The higher its level in the blood, the longer the acid s alts can linger in the body. This increases the burden on the kidneys.
Acid level
The reasons for the decrease in uric acid in the blood are interconnected with the amount of purines that enter the body along with food. They are mainly containedin foods rich in animal proteins.
Acid levels are significantly affected by several factors: the process of synthesis of purines, how quickly these compounds are excreted from the body, with what intensity cells decay, releasing purine compounds into the blood, how efficiently the excretory organs do their job.
In he althy people, the level of acid in the blood is kept within the normal range, they are not interested in the answer to the question of how to lower uric acid in the blood. Its indicators in males are higher than in women. Men in most cases have impressive muscle mass, sometimes abuse physical activity and consume foods rich in proteins. These factors contribute to an increase in the rate of uric acid.
Functions of this acid
Uric acid does not harm the human body. It is a component of the metabolic system.
S alts of this acid are necessary to perform the most important functions. They help increase the production of certain hormones, thereby stimulating the work of brain cells.
Having an antioxidant effect, uric acid s alts fight the development of oncological processes. They are endowed with the ability to capture and remove free radicals.
Uric acid is low in the blood (reasons)
Acid deficiency found during testing is often caused by:
- Failures in the liver, slowing down the production of a certaina substance that can affect the concentration of acid in the blood.
- Removal of excess uric acid by excretory organs.
- Deficiency of protein food leads to the fact that uric acid in the blood is lowered. The causes of this problem usually lie in the observance of strict diets, veganism and vegetarianism.
In certain cases, the level of uric acid may deviate from the norm under the influence of an unbalanced diet enriched with protein food.
Diseases that lower blood acid levels
Certain pathologies can negatively affect normal levels of uric acid in the blood. The following diseases can slow down the production of its crystals:
- Liver diseases occurring in acute and chronic form. They negatively affect the formation of enzymes involved in the process of splitting purine compounds.
- Chronic alcoholism. This serious and in most cases incurable disease causes irreversible changes in the structure of the liver and kidneys. The abuse of alcoholic beverages also leads to a decrease in the level of acid s alts in the blood.
- When uric acid in the blood decreases, the reason may be the development of pathological processes in the kidneys.
- Genetic pathologies that disrupt metabolic processes involving copper. This microelement is endowed with the ability to lower uric acid. Copper deficiency in the body can trigger the development of such a serious disease as cirrhosis.
- Severe burns of a large area of the skin, affecting soft tissues.
- Toxicosis in women in the first trimester of pregnancy, which can increase the load on the kidneys, can also serve as an impetus for a decrease in acid levels.
Gout
Such a common disease as gout (low uric acid in the blood is not considered the cause of its development) is a rather unpleasant disease.
This disease is mainly observed in the representatives of the stronger sex who have reached adulthood. Sometimes it can be typical for families, being inherited. Even before the onset of the characteristic symptoms of gout, a blood test can detect an increase in uric acid in the patient's blood.
The first signs of this disease are usually nothing to worry about. A person may feel pain in the big toe, after a while the pain disappears on its own, but then it returns and becomes stronger.
Gout symptoms include:
- Pain in the fingers of the upper and lower extremities, ankle joint, knee.
- High body temperature.
- Increased white blood cell count.
- In the fluid taken for study from the diseased joint, there are leukocytes involved in phagocytosis, and the content of acid crystals is reduced.
- Chronic gout sometimes leads to joint deformity and irreversiblethe process of necrosis of affected tissues.
It can be difficult to cure this disease, sometimes the course of treatment can adversely affect the patient's he alth. Taking special anti-gout drugs is one of the reasons for the decrease in uric acid in the blood.
Acid testing
It is possible to obtain information about the content of acid in the blood only by resorting to a special analysis. Doctors prescribe it in certain cases:
- When symptoms of gout appear.
- To identify the causes that led to the formation of kidney stones.
- For kidney disease.
- If the patient has been taking strong drugs for a long time.
- The patient began to lose weight dramatically.
This analysis allows you to identify whether uric acid in the blood is increased or decreased. The reasons for this condition must be investigated.
Before taking the test, you should not introduce an excess amount of sweet and s alty foods into your diet, drink alcohol-based drinks. Smoking is not recommended an hour before the test. Medications may also affect the results of this test.
How to normalize acid levels
To normalize the concentration of s alts of a given acid, the specialist prescribes a course of specific treatment. It should be combined with a diet that can eliminate anxiety symptoms.
A large number of people strivelower uric acid in the blood folk remedies. Traditional medicine methods, of which there are a large number, often allow you to bring the acid level back to normal.
Nettle juice helps to remove excess of this acid from the body. It is advised to take it several times a day for a teaspoon.
A decoction of lingonberry leaves, prepared according to a specific recipe at home, also helps to remove acid s alts from the human body.
Effective remedies prepared on the basis of a decoction of birch leaves, infusion of calendula, sage and chamomile also help to normalize the amount of uric acid in a fairly short time.
When uric acid in the blood is low, the reasons for its increase are eliminated, the patient does not feel unwell. But you should not relax to get rid of these problems forever, it is recommended to play sports and eat right.
Helpful tips
To normalize the level of acid in the blood, you should listen to certain recommendations:
- Limit purine-rich foods.
- Get rid of excess weight that can lead to the development of gout.
- Strictly follow the prescriptions of doctors.
- Get regular blood tests and see a specialist.
- Do not self-medicate, it is recommended to take only those drugs prescribed by your doctor.
- Drink plenty of fluids that can increase urine output.
Often when acid levels decrease, there are no pronounced symptoms. Weakness and sensitivity of the skin may well signal the development of a certain pathology in the body.
Low uric acid in the blood usually does not pose a real threat to human he alth, but in certain cases it can lead to the formation of kidney stones.
