A growing body of research suggests that measuring uric acid levels in saliva can help diagnose more than a dozen conditions, including type 2 diabetes, dementia and cancer.
from “Daily Mail”
The human body produces up to two liters of saliva per day and although it is 99% water, it also contains more than 700 microorganisms and compounds such as uric acid.
uric acid
Uric acid is formed when the body processes purines, which are compounds produced by damaged or dead cells in the body, but they are also found in some foods and drinks.
Uric acid is removed from the body through urine. Commonly associated with gout – sufferers have high levels of uric acid that forms crystals in the joints, usually the big toe, resulting in throbbing pain.
High blood pressure and diabetes – expressions
Uric acid builds up in the blood if there is too much purine in the diet, or if the body cannot get rid of it quickly enough and is associated with many diseases other than gout.
oxidative stress
A new review of studies that investigated the link between uric acid levels in saliva and disease concludes that a saliva test for uric acid might be a non-invasive method for diagnosing serious diseases associated with oxidative stress, which occurs when the body does not produce enough antioxidants to deal with molecules that cause oxidative stress. They are called free radicals, which damage tissues through a process called oxidation. Oxidative stress can contribute to a range of conditions including type 2 diabetes.
diabetes mellitus expression
diabetic
As the authors of the scientific review, from Datta Meiji University of Medical Sciences in India, explain in the journal Cureus, abnormally high levels of uric acid can be a sign of high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, some types of cancer, and metabolic syndrome. It is a group of health problems including obesity, high blood sugar and a precursor to type 2 diabetes.
blood pressure
An earlier study, published in the journal Hypertension in 2018, found that women with the highest levels of uric acid were twice as likely to develop high blood pressure, while men had a 37% greater risk.
Cancer and dementia
A study conducted in 2020 and published in the journal Cancer concluded that high levels of uric acid can cause many types of cancer, including gastrointestinal cancer. It also revealed a link between low concentrations of uric acid and depression, stress, Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease.
proactive use
Professor Raj Pursad, Consultant Urologist at Bristol Urology, said: “We are constantly looking for diagnostic indicators such as uric acid that avoid invasive tests such as a biopsy or blood test. These can be used to diagnose conditions, as well as to use them proactively. [قبل تفاقم الحالة]With faster testing than waiting for standard lab tests.”
