How to Cure High Uric Acid

Have you recently discovered you have high uric acid levels 1? Uric acid is a waste product formed when your body breaks down substances called purines. Purines are made naturally by your body, but they're also found in almost every food you eat.

Uric acid is normally carried in your blood, passed through your kidneys, and then removed from your body in your urine. High levels of uric acid — called hyperuricemia — occur when excessive amounts of uric acid accumulate in your blood 12.

There are a number of causes of hyperuricemia. Treating the underlying cause, making dietary changes and taking medications are some of the best ways to lower uric levels.

Address the Cause of High Uric Acid

• Thiazide diuretics — hydrochlorothiazide (Hydrodiuril, Microzide), chlorthalidone  (Thalitone) and methyclothiazide
  
• Furosemide (Lasix)
  
• Low dose aspirin
  
• Some anti-rejection medications like cyclosporine (Sandimmune)
  
• Levodopa (Larodopa)
  
• Ethambutol (Myambutol)
  
• Nicotinic acid (Nicolar)
  
• Vitamin B12 supplements
  :

Beware of What You Drink

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Alcohol often increases uric acid levels. Alcohol-containing drinks — especially beer — have high amounts of purines. Alcohol can also increase purine production in your body and reduce uric acid excretion by your kidneys.

Fructose increases the production of purines by the body, raising uric acid levels. Limit or avoid drinks sweetened with high-fructose corn syrup, such as non-diet sodas and some sweetened juices, if your uric acid is high 1.

Coffee, water and low-fat milk can all reduce uric acid levels. They do so by increasing uric acid removal through your urine. Both regular and decaffeinated coffee have this effect.

Avoid High-Purine Foods

Most fruits and vegetables will not affect uric acid levels or may even help lower your uric acid. Some vegetables, however, contain moderate amounts of purines. These include:

• peas
  
• lentils
  
• beans
  
• cauliflower
  
• spinach
  
• asparagus

A 2017 review article in the Journal of Advanced Research notes that they can increase uric acid levels, but not much as purine-rich meats and seafood 12. Avoid large amounts of these vegetables if your uric acid is high 1.

Lose Weight and Consider Supplements

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If you're overweight, losing weight will often reduce uric acid levels. In fact, weight loss in an obese person is generally more effective than major reductions in dietary purines, according to an article in the November 2012 issue of Therapeutic Advances in Chronic Disease.

Vitamin C may reduce uric acid production in your body and increase uric acid excretion through your urine. A 2012 study in Arthritis Care and Research, which combined the results of several previous studies, found that vitamin C supplements — 500 milligrams per day on average — significantly decreased uric acid levels.

Folic acid supplements may also reduce uric acid production and thus decrease uric acid levels, according to a study published in a 2017 issue of American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Medications for High Uric Acid Levels

Several prescription medications are available to reduce high uric acid levels 1. The choice depends on a number of factors, including whether you have kidney problems. Some medications act by reducing the production of uric acid in your body.

These include allopurinol (Zyloprim or Lopurin) and febuxostat (Uloric). Another group of medications, called uricosuric agents, increase the removal of uric acid through your urine. They include probenecid (Probalan or Benemid), sulfinpyrazone (Anturane) and lesinurad (Zurampic).

Newer drugs — pegloticase (Krystexxa) and rasburicase (Elitek) — break down uric acid to allantoin, a substance that is more easily excreted by your kidneys. Unlike the other medications, which are available in pill form, pegloticase and rasburicase must be administered through a vein.

Talk to Your Doctor

High uric acid levels should not be ignored 1. The excess uric acid may accumulate in your kidneys, producing kidney stones or chronic kidney disease. Uric acid crystals can also collect in your joints, causing a type of arthritis called gout.

Your doctor will help determine the underlying cause of your high uric acid and the best treatment for you 1. Depending on the cause, it may not be possible to permanently cure your hyperuricemia, but appropriate treatment will help lower your uric acid levels 2.