Uric acid is the end product of purine breakdown — purines come both from your own cell turnover and from food. Your kidneys clear most of it, so the level reflects both how much you produce and how well you excrete it.
Check your value
Reference range used: 3.4–7.0 mg/dL. Runs in your browser — nothing is stored.
mg/dL
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Wellness information, not medical advice. Reference ranges vary between laboratories and depend on age, sex and context. This page cannot diagnose anything — always read your result with the range printed on your own report, and discuss concerns with a doctor.
It is best known for gout, which occurs when uric acid crystallises in joints. But most people with raised uric acid never develop gout, and the marker is also studied in relation to metabolic and kidney health.
Why it matters
Uric acid tends to track with metabolic health more broadly. It commonly rises alongside insulin resistance, high triglycerides and raised blood pressure — which is why it is worth reading in that context.
What influences your uric acid
Alcohol, especially beer, which both adds purines and impairs excretion.
Fructose, uniquely among sugars, which directly increases uric acid production.
Purine-rich foods — red meat, organ meats, some seafood — though diet usually contributes less than metabolic factors.
Dehydration and reduced kidney function, which limit clearance.
Some diuretics, a common and easily overlooked cause.
What to do with the result
Hydration is the simplest lever — reduced clearance is a frequent contributor.
Cutting sugar-sweetened drinks often does more than cutting red meat, because of the fructose effect.
If you have had a gout attack, this is a marker to manage with a doctor rather than alone.
Common questions
What is a normal uric acid level?
Typical laboratory ranges are roughly 3.4–7.0 mg/dL for men and 2.4–6.0 mg/dL for women. Above about 6.8 mg/dL, uric acid can start to crystallise.
My result is in µmol/L — how do I convert?
Divide µmol/L by 59.48 to get mg/dL. So 387 µmol/L is about 6.5 mg/dL.
Does high uric acid always mean gout?
No. Many people have raised uric acid and never develop gout. Gout is diagnosed from symptoms and joint findings, not from this blood test alone.
Why is the range different for women?
Oestrogen increases uric acid excretion, so women of reproductive age typically run lower. Levels rise after menopause.
See this marker in context
A single value tells you little on its own. PhisBio Lab reads your whole blood panel and shows how five body systems — including Kidneys — are doing together.