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Association between serum uric acid and muscle strength according to glycemic status in older adults: NHANES 1999–2002

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Abstract

Background

Hyperglycemia induces heightened oxidative stress, potentially leading to reduced muscle strength. Consequently, compounds with antioxidant properties could potentially offer protection against this decline. Uric acid (UA) is known for its antioxidant effects and has shown a positive association with muscle strength in older adults. However, whether this association extends to older adults with hyperglycemia remains unknown.

Aim

To assess the association between UA levels and muscle strength in older adults, stratified by glycosylated hemoglobin levels.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted, involving 2380 individuals aged 50 to 85 years (1500 normoglycemic and 880 hyperglycemic), selected from a subsample of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999–2002. Hyperglycemia was defined as glycosylated hemoglobin levels ≥ 5.7%. Muscle strength was assessed using a kinetic communicator isokinetic dynamometer. Serum UA levels were measured using a colorimetric method. Linear regression analyses were employed to examine the association of continuous UA values and tertiles of UA levels with muscle strength based on glycemic status, adjusting for potential confounding factors.

Results

Tertiles of UA levels showed a positive association with peak force in individuals with hyperglycemia (p-trend = 0.013), but not in those with normoglycemia (p-trend = 0.077). Moreover, continuous UA values were positively associated with muscle strength in older adults with hyperglycemia (β = 5.2 (0.6; 9.8); p = 0.027), whereas no association was observed in those with normal glycemia (β = 2.4 (− 2.1; 6.9); p = 0.282).

Conclusion

Serum UA exhibits a positive association with muscle strength in older adults with hyperglycemia; however, this association is not observed in individuals with normal glucose levels. These results suggest that UA levels may play a crucial role in muscle strength, particularly in older adults experiencing heightened oxidative stress induced by hyperglycemia.

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Data availability

The dataset generated and analyzed during the current study is available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

EPO acknowledges The Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq, Brazil, 307786/2022-6) for their support and contribution. We thank CAPES for financial support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Nutrition, Exercise and Health (LaNES), School of Medicine, Federal University of Uberlandia (UFU), Av. Pará, nº1720 Bloco 2U Campus Umuarama, Uberlandia, Minas Gerais, 38400-902, Brazil

    Breno Batista-da-Silva, Paula C. Nahas, Larissa S. Limirio, Rafaela Nehme, Flávia M. S. de Branco & Erick P. de Oliveira

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  1. Breno Batista-da-Silva
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  2. Paula C. Nahas
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  3. Larissa S. Limirio
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  5. Flávia M. S. de Branco
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  6. Erick P. de Oliveira
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Contributions

BBS contributed to data interpretation, conducted statistical analysis, and authored the manuscript; LSL and RN conducted statistical analysis, participated in data interpretation, and contributed to manuscript revisions; PCN and FMSB were involved in dataset configuration, statistical analysis, and manuscript revisions; EPO contributed to data interpretation, manuscript writing, and manuscript revision. All authors reviewed and approved the final version of the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Erick P. de Oliveira.

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Ethical approval

NHANES data collection protocols are approved by the ethics review board of the National Center for Health Statistics.

Consent to participate

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

Competing interests

Erick P. de Oliveira is an Associate Editor for Nutrire and the peer-review process for this article was independently handled by another member of the journal editorial board. The other authors declare no competing interests.

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Batista-da-Silva, B., Nahas, P.C., Limirio, L.S. et al. Association between serum uric acid and muscle strength according to glycemic status in older adults: NHANES 1999–2002. Nutrire 49, 27 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s41110-024-00269-4

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