Higher Uric Acid Linked With Stronger Postmenopausal Bones

Higher levels of serum uric acid (UA) might counteract osteoporosis in peri- and postmenopausal women by providing higher bone mineral density (BMD) and lower bone turnover, which would presumably imply reduced fracture risk.

This intriguing result comes from a study of 356 peri- and postmenopausal women with a mean age of 60.5 in Australia. The research team took DXA measurements at baseline and at each followup visit and averaged them over a decade, At the final visit in the study period, they also measured calciotropic hormones and bone turnover markers.

Even taking lean body mass and fat mass into account, at the end of the study all women who had higher UA levels also maintained good lumbar spine, forearm, and overall body BMD levels. (UA didn't seem to benefit pelvic bone mass, however.)

It would be premature to regard UA as an osteoporosis preventive, observed study team member Markus Seibel MD, who is director of the ANZAC Research Institute’s Bone Research Program.The underlying mechanisms aren't yet elaborated, he pointed out; nor is there enough information yet to judge the balance between any osteoporosis benefit and the adverse effects of high UA such as gout.