DavidPerlmutterMD · 2021-11-29 · David Perlmutter (host), Richard Johnson
Uric Acid - The Acid You May Need to Drop - with Dr. Johnson | The Empowering Neurologist EP. 138
48 claims checked against research: 3 needing context 31 supported 2 corroborated online 12 unverified
12 No source found (not proven false)
Prolonged hyperuricemia in rats causes kidney-driven hypertension that persists even after uric acid levels are returned to normal.
"But what we found, as I said, was that initially the high blood pressure was associated with high uric acid and was driven by the uric acid, but over time the kidney took over and then you could lower the uric acid and the high blood pressure persisted." (said at 0:12:12)
No published record matching the claim that prolonged hyperuricemia in rats causes kidney-driven hypertension that persists even after uric acid levels are returned to normal was located; this does not prove the claim false.
In 1890, diabetes prevalence was reported by Sir William Osler as approximately 2 cases per 100,000 people.
"Diabetes was like two cases per 100,000 people in 1890, that's what, you know, Sir William Osler wrote in his textbook, and then it started to increase dramatically into the '20s and the '40s and the '50s." (said at 0:23:15)
No published record matching the claim that Sir William Osler reported a diabetes prevalence of approximately 2 cases per 100,000 people in 1890 was located; this does not prove the claim false.
A 1905 study by Janeway of 500 individuals found a hypertension prevalence of only 3% to 5%.
"High blood pressure was actually rare back in 1905, and Janeway, who studied this, you know, 500 people, said there was only like 3 to 5% of people had high blood pressure back then." (said at 0:23:35)
No published record matching a 1905 study by Theodore Janeway evaluating hypertension prevalence in 500 individuals and finding a rate of 3% to 5% was located; this does not prove the claim false. Theodore Caldwell Janeway published a foundational monograph, *The Clinical Study of Blood-Pressure*, in 1904 and subsequent clinical series of patients with elevated blood pressure, but no indexed epidemiological study confirming the specific 1905 cohort and prevalence figures mentioned in the claim was identified in the available literature.
Average population serum uric acid levels increased from around 3.0 mg/dL in the 1920s to approximately 5.5 to 6.0 mg/dL in modern times.
"And it's very easy to show that uric acid levels went from about three milligrams percent in 1920 to an average of like five and a half or six milligrams percent like now." (said at 0:24:25)
No published record matching the claim that average population serum uric acid levels increased from approximately 3.0 mg/dL in the 1920s to 5.5 to 6.0 mg/dL in modern times was located; this does not prove the claim false.
Approximately 25% to 30% of people with high blood pressure have elevated serum uric acid, and in severe hypertension the prevalence rises to 50% to 75%.
"it was known that 25% of people, 30% of people with high blood pressure have a high uric acid, and if you have bad hypertension, it's like 50 or even 75%." (said at 0:09:17)
No published record matching the specific prevalence estimates (that 25% to 30% of individuals with hypertension and 50% to 75% of those with severe hypertension have hyperuricemia) was located; this does not prove the claim false.
Rats administered a uricase inhibitor along with fructose show more severe metabolic syndrome, more liver fat, higher blood pressure, and worse insulin resistance than rats given the same dose of fructose alone.
"And lo and behold, the animals that got the uricase inhibitor plus fructose, even though they got the same amount of fructose, they they showed a lot worse metabolic syndrome. They had more fat in their liver. They had higher blood pressures. They had worse insulin resistance." (said at 0:41:30)
No published record matching the claim that rats administered a uricase inhibitor along with fructose show more severe metabolic syndrome, higher liver fat, increased blood pressure, and worse insulin resistance compared to rats given fructose alone was located; this does not prove the claim false.
Gorillas have serum uric acid levels around 3 to 4 mg/dL, whereas monkeys with functional uricase have levels around 1 to 2 mg/dL.
"their uric acid levels were like three. Uh they weren't seven or eight. They were like three or four milligrams percent. And the uh monkeys and stuff that had the uricase, they had uric acid levels of one or two." (said at 0:48:53)
No published record matching the claim that gorillas have serum uric acid levels around 3 to 4 mg/dL while monkeys with functional uricase have levels around 1 to 2 mg/dL was located; this does not prove the claim false.
Yanomami Indians living in southern Venezuela have serum uric acid levels around 3 mg/dL, compared to 5.5 to 6 mg/dL in Western researchers.
"And their uric acid levels were like three, just like the gorilla. Whereas the members of the party that had gone down there, like Jim Neel and Bill Oliver's blood, their uric acids were like five and a half, six." (said at 0:51:03)
No published record matching the claim that Yanomami individuals had serum uric acid levels around 3 mg/dL compared to 5.5 to 6 mg/dL in visiting researchers (such as James Neel or William Oliver) was located; this does not prove the claim false.
Close to 70% of processed foods on grocery store shelves in the United States contain added sweeteners.
"close to 70% of the processed foods on the grocery store shelves in America now with added sweetener, much of that derived from high-fructose corn syrup." (said at 1:00:24)
No published record matching the claim that close to 70% of processed foods on grocery store shelves in the United States contain added sweeteners was located; this does not prove the claim false.
Alcohol metabolism consumes ATP to produce AMP, which leads to uric acid creation.
"And the third player would be alcohol, which also enters into the similar metabolic pathway, utilizing ATP to AMP and creating uric acid." (said at 1:00:36)
No published record matching the claim that alcohol metabolism utilizes ATP to AMP to create uric acid was located; this does not prove the claim false.
Non-alcoholic beer increases the risk of raising uric acid levels due to brewer's yeast purines.
"Right, it's the brewer's yeast. In fact, non-alcoholic beer also increases the risk for raising uric acid in a" (said at 1:01:41)
No published record matching the claim that non-alcoholic beer increases the risk of raising uric acid levels due to brewer's yeast purines was located; this does not prove the claim false. While studies have evaluated the purine content of beer and the impact of alcoholic beer on serum uric acid, direct published clinical trials assessing the isolated uric-acid-raising effect of non-alcoholic beer due specifically to yeast purines were not identified.
Drinking beer raises uric acid levels within two hours, whereas consuming sugar raises uric acid levels within 15 to 30 minutes.
"So if you drink beer, for example, your uric acid levels will go up within two hours. If you drink sugar, your uric acid levels go up in 15 to 30 minutes." (said at 1:02:27)
No published record matching the claim that drinking beer raises uric acid levels within two hours whereas consuming sugar raises uric acid levels within 15 to 30 minutes was located; this does not prove the claim false.
Unverified means no publication matching the claim was located; it does not prove the claim false. Spotted an error? See the corrections policy - disputes from the people quoted are prioritized.