URIC ACID
Uric acid is the principal end product of purine, nucleic acid, and nucleoprotein metabolism.
Uric acid is transported by the blood from the liver to the kidney’s which filter out and secretes about 70% and the remainder excreted via the GI tract.
From a pathological view, uric acid is elevated when there is cell breakdown as in leukemia and catabolism of nucleic acids as in gout, or removal via the kidneys is decreased due to renal failure.
From a physiologic view, we look at every level of protein combustion where there remain two by-products which are a Mucous (oily residue)
and Uric acid (carbon ash)
In order for protein to be fully combusted, it must first be influenced in the duodenum by trypsin, chymotrypsin, carboxypolypeptidase, and bile emulsification.
Trypsin and chymotrypsin cleave proteins into peptides and carboxypolypeptidase split the peptides into amino acids.
The pancreas synthesizes trypsinogen, chymotrypsinogen, and procarboxypolypeptidase, which are enzymatically inactive. When they are released into the duodenum they are all activated by enterokinase.
Which now readies the proteins for assimilation in the liver. Therefore, if the proteins are not prepared properly the two end products, uric acid, and mucous, will be out of balance.
URIC ACID IS HIGH WHEN
General considerations:
¬ Decrease fatty proteins and rich foods
¬ Decrease alcohol and simple sugars
¬ Increase water intake