Uric Acid

What is Uric Acid?

Uric acid is a waste product formed when the body breaks down purines from cells and certain foods. Most is filtered out by the kidneys, and high blood levels are linked to gout and kidney stones.

Uric acid is produced continuously as purines are metabolized, and the kidneys handle most of its removal into urine, so blood levels reflect the balance between how much is made and how much is cleared. When uric acid builds up, it can crystallize in and around joints to cause gout or contribute to kidney stones, although many people with elevated levels never develop these problems. Levels are influenced by diet (red and organ meats, certain seafood, alcohol, and high-fructose foods), body weight, kidney function, and some medications, and they differ by sex, tending to be higher in men. Because a single high reading does not equal disease, uric acid is interpreted together with symptoms and, when gout is suspected, joint-fluid analysis.

What to know about Uric Acid

Understanding Uric Acid means knowing what it reflects, what tends to move it, and the signs that suggest it’s worth a closer look — so you can bring the right questions to your next appointment.

How to read a value in context

A uric acid result within the lab's reference range means it falls within the population interval for your sex, not that you are protected from or destined for gout, since many people with high levels stay symptom-free and gout can occur across a range of values. Because diet, alcohol, and hydration move uric acid around, one reading is best viewed alongside symptoms and trends.

Lifestyle factors that influence this marker

• Moderate intake of red meat, organ meats, and high-purine seafood in favor of a balanced diet
• Limit alcohol and sugar-sweetened, high-fructose drinks, which can raise uric acid
• Stay well hydrated and work toward a healthy body weight through sustainable habits
• Talk to your doctor before changing your diet, exercise, or supplements, especially if you have had gout or kidney stones

Tests often checked alongside this

• Creatinine and eGFR — because kidney function affects how uric acid is cleared
• Fasting glucose or HbA1c — metabolic health commonly tracks with uric acid
• Lipid panel — cardiometabolic risk factors often cluster with high uric acid
• Synovial fluid analysis — the definitive way to confirm gout when a joint is affected

How this can show up in how you look and feel

• High levels can be associated with sudden, intense joint pain, swelling, warmth, and redness, classically in the big toe
• Elevations can be associated with kidney stone symptoms such as flank pain and blood in the urine
• Many people with high uric acid have no symptoms whatsoever

What can affect this marker

• Diet high in purines, alcohol, or fructose
• Body weight and metabolic health
• Kidney function and hydration
• Certain medications, including some diuretics

What to track over time

• Uric acid trend over time, not a single value
• Frequency and location of any joint flares
• Alcohol, dietary, and hydration patterns
• Body weight and related metabolic markers

What to ask your doctor

• Does my level explain my joint symptoms, or is another test needed?
• Am I at risk for kidney stones at this level?
• Could my diet or medications be raising my uric acid?
• If I have gout, what target level should I aim for?

This glossary entry is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Read our Medical Disclaimer.