Urinary pH and metabolic factors associated with hyperuricemia in non-obese men

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the factors associated with hyperuricemia in non-obese men. Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study included non-obese Korean men aged over 18 years who participated in the 2021 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Participants with obesity or a history of gout treatment were excluded. Obesity was defined as having a body mass index of ≥25 kg/m 2 . Complex sample logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine the factors associated with hyperuricemia. Results: A total of 1,194 participants were included in the study, with 349 (29.2%) experiencing hyperuricemia. In the logistic regression analysis, triglycerides (TG), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and creatinine levels were associated with hyperuricemia. However, urinary pH (odds ratio [OR]: 0.746, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.581~0.959; p=0.022) and alkaline urine (pH≥7) (OR: 0.581, 95% CI: 0.389~0.867; p=0.008) were inversely associated with hyperuricemia. Among the 968 participants with available dietary data, those with alkaline urine had higher fiber intake and a higher score on the Korea Healthy Eating Index. Conclusion: TG and ALT were associated with hyperuricemia in non-obese men, whereas urinary pH was inversely associated with hyperuricemia. Participants with alkaline urine exhibited different dietary intakes compared to those with non-alkaline urine. These findings highlight associations between urinary pH, metabolic factors, and hyperuricemia in non-obese men. Keywords : Hyperuricemia, Hydrogen-ion concentration, Nutrition surveys