Rheumatology Advance Access originally published online on April 5, 2008
Rheumatology 2008 47(5):713-717; doi:10.1093/rheumatology/ken066
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Haemoglobin A1c, fasting glucose, serum C-peptide and insulin resistance in relation to serum uric acid levels—the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
1Rheumatology Division, Arthritis Research Centre of Canada, Department of Medicine, Vancouver General Hospital, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada and 2Division of Adult and Community Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
Correspondence to: H. K. Choi, Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Arthritis Research Centre of Canada, 895 West 10th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L7, Canada. E-mail: hchoi{at}arthritisresearch.ca
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Abstract |
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Objective. To evaluate haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), fasting glucose, serum C-peptide and insulin resistance in relation to serum uric acid levels in a nationally representative sample of men and women.
Methods. Using data from 14 664 participants aged 20 yrs and older in The US Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1988–1994), we examined the relation between the levels of HbA1c, other biomarkers and serum uric acid levels using multivariate linear regressions stratified by gender.
Results. The serum uric acid levels increased with increasing serum HbA1c levels up to the category of 6–6.9%, and thereafter decreased with further increasing HbA1c levels (a bell-shaped relation). Compared with a HbA1c level of <5%, the multivariate differences among women were 26.8 µmol/l for HbA1c of 6–6.9% and –25.6 µmol/l (95% CI –42.8, –8.3) for HbA1c 
9%. The corresponding multivariate differences among men were 8.3 µmol/l (95% CI –3.0, 19.6) and –64.8 µmol/l (95% CI –46.0, –84.5), which were both significantly different from those among women (P-values for interaction by sex <0.001). Fasting glucose levels also showed a bell-shaped relation with serum uric acid levels. Individuals with diabetes showed lower serum uric acid levels and the association was larger among men (P-value for interaction, 0.007). Serum uric acid levels increased linearly with increasing fasting serum C-peptide levels, serum insulin levels or insulin resistance (multivariate P-values for trend, <0.001).
Conclusions. Individuals with moderately elevated HbA1c levels (i.e. pre-diabetes) may be at a higher risk of hyperuricaemia and gout, particularly in women, whereas individuals with diabetes or highly elevated HbA1c levels may be at a lower risk of these conditions, particularly in men.
KEY WORDS: Uric acid, Gout, Haemoglobin A1c, C-peptide, Insulin, Insulin resistance, NHANES III
Submitted 13 November 2007;
revised version accepted 28 January 2008.
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