A novel testing approach that could detect the compounds responsible for gout attacks may be beneficial in detecting other diseases. The new research suggests that type 2 diabetes, dementia, and even cancer could be detected by simply quantifying uric acid levels through saliva testing.
Uric Acid in Saliva
This picture taken on October 14, 2020 in Brussels shows a device created by the University of Liege meant to sample saliva in order to test it for Covid-19. - These tests, developed by the students of Liege university, have been used sucessfully by the University hospital. The purpose of this test, for which the patient collects their own sample, aims at decongesting testing centres.
Humans produce a staggering 2 liters of saliva daily. Almost 99 percent of the substance's content is water, while the remaining portion contains over 700 microorganisms and other compounds, including uric acid.
Uric acid is created when a body regulates a separate chemical compound known as purines. Purines are produced by broken or damaged cells, and present in other things people consume, including dried beans, liver-based cuisines and beers.
Uric acid can be drained by urines out of the body. The compound is commonly linked with gout, a severe form of a condition related to higher levels of uric acid. Crystal substances form in the joints, commonly in the big toe area that leads to painful frictions.
Uric acid tends to build up in the blood whenever higher levels of purine are supplied through diets. High uric acid can also manifest if the body fails to get rid of the substance on time.
The new study on the link between uric acid and saliva allowed experts to develop a new approach to specify each of the diseases present in a system. Through the use of non-invasive saliva testing, a patient can be diagnosed with severe conditions that are related to oxidative stress.
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Saliva Testing and Oxidative Stress
Oxidative stress occurs when a system does not meet the antioxidants required to manage free radical molecules. These factors could damage tissues through an oxidation process and trigger a wide range of diseases, including type 2 diabetes.
According to the expert from Datta Meghe University of Medical Sciences, who conducted the study, an abnormal rate of uric acid serves as an indicator for high blood pressure, kidney disease, heart problems, and cancers. High uric acid is also considered a marker for metabolism syndromes, including high blood sugar, obesity, and other precursors to type 2 diabetes.
High blood pressure tends to develop twice as much in women with high levels of uric acid, according to a Hypertension study published in 2018. Men, on the other hand, had a greater risk of 37 percent.
A 2020 Journal of Cancer study showed that high uric acid levels could manifest in cancer, especially those found in the digestive tract, DailyMail reported. On the other hand, low concentrations are associated with depression, anxiety, and severe neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.
The study titled "Salivary Uric Acid: A Non-invasive Wonder for Clinicians?" was published in Cureus.
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