Role of uric acid and vitamin C in chronic diseases
Question : Diet & Disease
It has been hypothesized that in our early evolution, uric acid may have been beneficial as a physiological alarm signal under conditions of environmental stress and starvation and may have a basic role in the fattening-fasting cycle. But, ironically, this signal has now gone awry in Modern society with the introduction of the Western diet, which has resulted in a dramatic increase in serum uric acid due to the availability of purine-rich meats and the introduction of sugar (fructose). This increase in fructose intake, in addition to the loss of the key enzyme in vitamin C synthesis in primates, closely parallels the rise in gout, hypertension, obesity and metabolic syndrome that has occurred over the last two centuries and particularly, the last 50 years. Explain the above.
Students should discuss/ include the following points, in addition to those they consider relevant from their wider reading.
References will be posted with the lecture files.
References will be posted with the lecture files.