Factors contributing to increased serum urate in postmenopausal Japanese females.

OBJECTIVE

The level of serum urate is generally elevated in postmenopausal individuals. In addition to estrogen, other menopause-related factors may also affect uric acid metabolism in postmenopausal females. Accordingly, we investigated factors related to increased serum urate levels in addition to lack of estrogen.

SUBJECTS AND

METHODS

We studied 448 females who participated in an annual health check-up. None were being treated for gout, hyperuricemia, or diabetes mellitus, and no subjects had a history of hysterectomy and had never used estrogens or progestins. Body mass index (BMI), homeostasis model of insulin resistance (HOMA-R), and ethanol ingestion were investigated in all subjects, while information regarding menopause status was also obtained.

RESULTS

Serum urate levels rose from the age of 46 to 60 years in the subjects. Multivariate regression analysis showed that BMI, HOMA-R, ethanol ingestion and menopause were independently associated with serum urate level. In addition, BMI and HOMA-R were higher in postmenopausal, as compared to premenopausal, subjects.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that menopause-related insulin resistance, obesity and ethanol ingestion as well as menopause may contribute to an increase in level of serum urate in postmenopausal Japanese women.