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Impact of different adiposity measures on the relation between serum uric acid and blood pressure in young adults

Journal of Human Hypertension volume 26, pages 677–683 (2012)Cite this article

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Abstract

Serum uric acid (SUA) concentration is independently associated with blood pressure (BP) in adults. We examined this association in young adults at an age where anti-hypertension treatment, other potential confounding factors and co-morbidity are unlikely to occur. We assessed BP, anthropometric variables including weight, height, waist circumference (WC), body fat percent (using bioimpedance), lifestyle behaviors, SUA and blood lipids in 549 participants aged 19–20 years from a population-based cohort study (Seychelles Child Development Study). Mean (s.d.) SUA was higher in males than females, 0.33 (0.08) and 0.24 (0.07) mmol l−1, respectively. Body mass index (BMI) was higher in females than males but BP was markedly higher in males than in females. SUA was associated with both systolic and diastolic BP. However, the magnitude of the linear regression coefficients relating BP and SUA decreased by up to 50% upon adjustment for BMI, WC or body fat percent. The association between SUA and BP was not altered upon further adjustment for alcohol intake, smoking, triglycerides or renal function. In fully adjusted models, SUA remained associated with BP (P<0.05) in females. In conclusion, adiposity substantially decreased the association between SUA and BP in young adults, and BP was independently associated with SUA in females. These findings suggest a role of adiposity in the link between hyperuricemia and hypertension.

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Acknowledgements

This study benefited from the funding received from various sources: an NIH grant (2-R01ES08442-05), as well as support from the Ministry of Health of Seychelles and from the Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, Lausanne, Switzerland. TL benefits from a ProDoc training grant from the Swiss National Foundation for Science (PDFMP3_127393).

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  1. Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Lausanne,, Lausanne, Switzerland

    T Lyngdoh, M Bochud & P Bovet

  2. Ministry of Health, Section of Noncommunicable diseases, Victoria, Seychelles

    B Viswanathan & P Bovet

  3. University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA

    G J Myers

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  1. T Lyngdoh
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Lyngdoh, T., Viswanathan, B., Myers, G. et al. Impact of different adiposity measures on the relation between serum uric acid and blood pressure in young adults. J Hum Hypertens 26, 677–683 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/jhh.2011.85

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