The effect of vitamin C intake on the risk of hyperuricemia and serum uric acid level in Korean Multi-Rural Communities Cohort

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the association between vitamin C intake and risk of hyperuricemia or serum uric acid levels in male and female subjects in the Korean Multi-Rural Communities Prospective Cohort.

Methods: This cross-sectional analysis was conducted in 9400 subjects enrolled in the Korean Multi-Rural Communities Cohort Study. The risk of hyperuricemia was assessed in five quintiles (Q1 to Q5) according to dietary and total vitamin C intake using multivariate-adjusted logistic regression models. Relationships between serum uric acid levels and vitamin C intake were evaluated using linear regression analysis after adjustment for covariates. Information about dietary components was collected using validated food frequency questionnaires.

Results: Dietary vitamin C intake, but not total vitamin C intake, was significantly different between hyperuricemic and non-hyperuricemic subjects in males (P=0.01) and females (P=0.02). The risk of hyperuricemia decreased with increased dietary vitamin C intake in male and female subjects after multivariate adjustment (P for trend=0.002 in males and P for trend=0.02 in females). An effect of total vitamin C intake on hyperuricemia risk was identified in females (P for trend=0.04), but not males (P for trend=0.06). Serum uric acid level was linearly associated with total vitamin C intake in females (β=-0.0001, P=0.01), but not with dietary vitamin C intake in either gender.

Conclusion: This study showed that vitamin C intake might be in part responsible for hyperuricemia or serum uric acid level in the Korean Multi-Rural Communities Cohort.

Keywords: Hyperuricemia; Uric acid; Vitamin C.