Abstract
Background: Current evidence suggests a positive relation of uric acid with diabetes risk, but it is still unclear whether this association is independent of other risk factors such as obesity and diet. Objective: To investigate whether plasma uric acid concentrations are independently associated with incident type 2 diabetes, and to investigate the role of a uric acid related dietary pattern in this association. Methods: We used a case-cohort study, nested in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition - Netherlands (EPIC-NL) study. The study included 2318 subcohort members and 845 incident diabetes cases, with a mean follow-up of 10 years. At baseline, blood samples were taken and diet was assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire. A dietary pattern was obtained with reduced rank regression. Diabetes was mainly self-reported, and verified against general practitioner records. Results: Mean plasma uric acid concentrations were 275 and 217 µmol/L for males and females respectively. After adjustment for age, sex, measures of adiposity, hypertension, biochemical markers and other confounders, uric acid related to a statistically significant higher risk of diabetes (HR 1.59 [95%CI: 1.06, 2.40]). A uric acid related dietary pattern (high: alcohol, meat , French fries, sugared soft drinks, snacks, low-fibre bread, low: soy products, tea) did not influence the relation. Conclusions: This study supports that high uric acid concentrations increase risk of diabetes, independent of risk factors such as obesity and diet.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
