How much damage does high uric acid do to the kidneys? Pay attention to these 6 points in your diet!

Among the many factors that affect kidney health, high uric acid has received increasing attention. Hyperuricemia not only causes gout, but also causes damage to the kidneys. Understanding the harm of high uric acid to the kidneys and lowering uric acid levels through dietary adjustments are the keys to protecting kidney health.

How does high uric acid damage the kidneys?

Urate crystals form

When the uric acid level in the blood continues to rise, uric acid will precipitate in the form of urate crystals and deposit in the kidney tissue. These crystals will act like tiny "stones", irritating kidney cells and triggering an inflammatory response. The renal tubules are the first to be affected. Urate crystals can easily block the renal tubules, hindering the normal production and excretion of urine, and causing damage to the renal tubular function. Over a long period of time, the renal tubules will atrophy and fibrosis, the normal structure of the kidneys will be destroyed, and renal function will gradually decline.

Induce inflammatory response

Urate crystals activate immune cells in the kidneys, release inflammatory mediators, and trigger an inflammatory response. Under inflammatory conditions, renal blood vessels constrict and blood flow decreases, further aggravating renal ischemia and hypoxia. At the same time, inflammation also promotes apoptosis of renal cells and accelerates damage to renal tissue. Clinical studies have shown that renal inflammation indicators in patients with hyperuricemia are significantly higher than those in normal people, and are closely related to the degree of renal function decline.

Affects renal hemodynamics

High uric acid levels interfere with the kidney's vascular regulation mechanism, causing renal arterioles to contract and renal vascular resistance to increase. This leads to increased renal perfusion pressure, increased pressure within the glomerulus, and filtration dysfunction. Over time, glomeruli become sclerotic, the kidney's ability to filter blood decreases, metabolic waste and excess water cannot be effectively excreted, increasing the burden on the kidneys and accelerating the process of renal failure.

6 Key Points to Lower Uric Acid with Diet

Limit intake of high-purine foods

High-purine foods are the main source of uric acid. Foods such as animal offal (liver, kidney, heart, etc.), seafood (shrimp, crab, shellfish), and thick broth are extremely high in purine and should be strictly limited. Animal liver can contain 200-1000 mg of purine per 100 grams of food, while the daily purine intake of a normal human body should be controlled at 150-300 mg. Reducing the intake of such foods can reduce uric acid production from the source.

Choose low-purine high-quality protein

When limiting the total amount of protein, we should focus on choosing high-quality proteins with low purine, such as milk and eggs. Every 100 grams of milk contains about 1-3 mg of purine, and eggs contain about 1-2 mg, which can meet the body's protein needs without significantly increasing uric acid levels. At the same time, eat tofu, soy milk and other soy products in moderation. Although beans are medium-purine foods, after being processed into soy products, the purine content is reduced and they are rich in plant protein, which puts relatively less burden on the kidneys.

Increase fruit and vegetable intake

Vegetables and fruits are mostly alkaline foods, which can alkalize urine and promote the dissolution and excretion of uric acid. Cucumbers, tomatoes, apples, cherries, etc. are not only low in purine, but also rich in vitamins, minerals and dietary fiber. Among them, cherries contain anthocyanins and other ingredients, which have been found to reduce uric acid levels and relieve gout symptoms. Ensuring a daily intake of 500 grams of vegetables and 200-350 grams of fruit is beneficial for lowering uric acid.

Drink plenty of water

Adequate water intake can increase urine volume and promote the excretion of uric acid. It is recommended to drink 2000-3000 ml of water per day, preferably boiled water. Increased urine can dilute the uric acid concentration and reduce the risk of urate crystal formation and deposition. At the same time, avoid drinking sugary drinks and alcoholic beverages, which will interfere with uric acid metabolism and increase uric acid levels. Alcohol also promotes the production of lactic acid, competing with uric acid for excretion, aggravating hyperuricemia.

Limit fructose intake

Fructose metabolism in the body consumes a lot of ATP and produces uric acid. Honey, fruit juice drinks, sweet cakes, etc. are rich in fructose and should be strictly controlled. For example, a 500 ml bottle of fruit juice drink may contain 30-50 grams of fructose. Excessive intake will increase uric acid. When choosing fruits, give priority to fresh and whole fruits to avoid large amounts of fructose intake during the juice concentration process.

Weight control

Obesity is an important risk factor for hyperuricemia. Overweight or obese people have metabolic disorders, increased uric acid production and reduced excretion. Controlling weight through a reasonable diet and moderate exercise can effectively reduce uric acid levels. It is generally recommended to control the body mass index (BMI) between 18.5 and 23.9 to reduce the metabolic burden on the kidneys caused by obesity.

High uric acid levels can cause serious damage to the kidneys. Starting with diet, strictly following these 6 points is an effective way to lower uric acid and protect the kidneys. Early attention and early intervention can protect kidney health.