A negative association between urinary iodine concentration and the prevalence of hyperuricemia and gout

[helvella]

In my mind, some sort of association between gout and thyroid has long seemed likely. However, it would probably be a gross over-simplification to suggest that everyone with gout is hypothyroid, and their gout was caused by that hypothyroidism.

As so many papers, this too calls for further research. Nonetheless, it seems worth mentioning.

• Original Contribution

• Published: 20 February 2020

A negative association between urinary iodine concentration and the prevalence of hyperuricemia and gout: a cross-sectional and population-based study in Mainland China

• Xixuan Lu,

• Xiaoguang Shi,

• […]

• Weiping Teng

European Journal of Nutrition (2020)Cite this article

• 2 Accesses

Abstract

Background and aims

Iodine is one of the most important trace elements in the human body. It is not only the main component of thyroid hormones but also has extrathyroid biological functions. To date, there have been no large-scale epidemiological studies on the relationship between hyperuricemia and iodine intake, although both are closely related to health. A population-based epidemiological survey in China offers such an opportunity.

Methods

This population-based cross-sectional study recruited 75,653 adults aged ≥ 18 years from 2015 to 2017 with a randomized, multistage, stratified sampling strategy. Serum uric acid levels and urinary iodine concentrations (UICs) were measured.

Results

Stratified by UIC, the prevalence of hyperuricemia was 17.8%, 18.8%, 16.0% and 13.7% in the UIC<100, 100–199, 200–299, and ≥ 300 μg/L groups, respectively; the prevalence of gout was 4.0%, 3.4%, 2.4% and 1.7%, respectively. The prevalence of gout decreased significantly as the UIC increased. The prevalence of hyperuricemia and gout were markedly higher in postmenopausal females than in the premenopausal population (hyperuricemia: 15.9% vs. 8.3%, X2= 520.072, p<0.001; gout: 3.6% vs. 1.3%, X2= 219.889, p<0.001), and the prevalence decreased as the UIC increased. Subjects in the more than adequate and excessive iodine groups had lower likelihoods of having hyperuricemia [aOR = 0.81 (95% CI 0.77–0.85), aOR = 0.68 (95% CI 0.64–0.72)] and lower odds of having gout than subjects in the adequate iodine (AI) group [aOR = 0.77 (95% CI 0.68–0.86), aOR = 0.59 (95% CI 0.51–0.68)].

Conclusions

UIC was inversely associated with the occurrence of hyperuricemia and gout. More in-depth research and prospective studies are needed to explore the molecular mechanisms and confirm the observed association.

link.springer.com/article/1...

[Hypopotamus]

Thanks for that. I've had gout for the last five months, and am hoping to avoid taking the 'usual' medication to reduce uric Acid. Is urinary iodine concentration something different to uric acid I wonder?

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Hypopotamus]

Yes - very different.

Urinary iodine concentration is how much iodine is in urine. Usually regarded as an indication of iodine statis. If low, you have not got enough iodine. If you, you have too much.

Uric acid is formed when your body breaks down food, specifically food containing urines.

You might find this helpful:

mayoclinic.org/symptoms/hig...

In your situation, I would consider getting a urinary iodine test and then, if indicated, some (modest) iodine supplementation.

[Hypopotamus in reply to helvella]

Thanks, I'll see if my GP will test me for urinary iodine.

Looking at that article, it looks like my gout could be hereditary, as is my hypothyroidism, and I guess that would support the theory that the two are linked.

It's a great pity that more data isn't collected (like from everybody), and put through a computer. I reckon that we would learn a lot more about various medical conditions.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Hypopotamus]

I appreciate that we cannot expect every person to be tested for, well, everything. But I fully agree that more data needs to be collected.

We continue to see TSH being the only test done on so many, occaionlly FT4, rarely FT3. Yet even on the basis of trying to prove the assumption FT4 and FT3 DON'T need to be done all the time, data needs to be established. For that reason, maybe in one area, or a few surgeries around the UK, they should all three be done automatically.

Further, even when people (often members here) get all three done, those results don't get included in any patient records (with very rare exceptions). Therefore, such data as does technically exist (i.e. the tests have been done), is not available.

It should be possible for private test results to go straight into the individual's records.