Abstract
BACKGROUND: Little research has been conducted into the effects of the combined manifestation of hyperuricemia and hyperhomocysteinemia on cardiometabolic risk factors and markers in young subjects. METHODS: 1298 males and 1402 females, 14-to-20-year-olds, were classified into four groups: 1/normouricemic/normohomocysteinemic, 2/normouricemic/hyperhormohomocysteinemic, 3/hyperuricemic/normohomocysteinemic, and 4/hyperuricemic/hyperhomocysteinemic. Anthropometric measures, blood pressure, plasma glucose, insulin, lipids, markers of renal function, C-reactive protein, asymmetric dimethylarginine, and blood counts were determined. RESULTS: Hyperuricemic males (but not females) had higher odds for hyperhomocysteinemia than normouricemic ones (OR: 1.8; 95% CI: 1.4-2.3; p < 0.001). Homocysteine and uric acid levels correlated directly (males: r = 0.076, females: r = 0.120; p < 0.01, both). Two-factor analysis of variance did not reveal a significant impact of hyperhomocysteinemia on any of the investigated cardiometabolic variables in females; in males, hyperuricemia and hyperhomocysteinemia showed a synergic effect on asymmetric dimethylarginine levels. Among four groups, subjects concurrently manifesting hyperuricemia and hyperhomocysteinemia did not presented the highest continuous metabolic syndrome score-a proxy measure of cardiometabolic risk; neither the multivariate regression model indicated a concurrent significant effect of uric acid and homocysteine on continuous metabolic syndrome score in either sex. CONCLUSION: In young healthy subjects, hyperhomocysteinemia does not aggravate the negative health effects imposed by hyperuricemia.