Abstract P239: Could Uric Acid Levels Predict Success In Chronic Weight Loss?

Abstract

Background: Obese individuals have higher prevalence of hyperuricemia (hyperUA) and with weight loss (WL) improved hyperUA. We previously reported that serum uric acid levels (UA) associated plasma norepinephrine (NE) could predict future weight gain and BP elevation, and that WL program combining diet + exercise was most effective on UA, WL and BP reductions, although diet had stronger effects on UA and BP reduction compared to exercise. Objective: In this study, we examined whether lower UA levels would predict future success and maintenance of chronic WL compared to higher UA levels in a 2 yr WL regimen with diet and exercise. Methods: 154 overweight/obese men (BMI>25 kg/m2) consisting of 89 normotensive and 65 untreated mild hypertensives were enrolled in the WL program with diet + exercise. The subjects had BP, BMI, Fat-mass, UA, plasma NE, insulin, glucose, HOMA-IR measured at entry, 6, 12, and 24 months. WL was defined as ≥10% WL. Results: 95 subjects succeeded significant WL at 24 month including 34 subjects in WL Maintenance group (WL was observed at both 6 and 24 m), and 61 subjects with Slow WL (WL was observed at only 24 m). At entry, serum UA and plasma NE in WL group (WL maintenance + Slow WL) were slightly lower compared to those in non-WL groups (WL<10% at 24 m). Especially the slow WL group had significantly lower UA at entry compared to the non-WL group and WL maintenance group. Plasma UA and NE levels in the WL group were significantly lower than the non-WL group. Percent (%) reductions of UA and NE were greater in WL group than non-WL group. In all subjects, baseline UA and % changes of UA correlated with % changes in BMI over 24 m (R=0.205, P<0.05; R=0.230, P<0.05, respectively). Baseline UA correlated with % changes in UA, changes in Fat-mass, and changes in BMI (R=0.210, P<0.05; R=0.197, P<0.05; R=0.185, P<0.05, respectively). Plasma NE at entry correlated with changes in UA and % changes in UA in all subjects (R=0.263, P<0.05; R=0.412, P<0.01). BP reductions at 24 m correlated with WL and baseline UA in all subjects (R=0.345, P<0.05; R=0.247, P<0.05) respectively). Conclusions: Serum UA and plasma NE levels may predict success in chronic WL with WL regimens, and may predict BP reduction associated with WL.