# Dietary patterns associated with hyperuricemia among the southeast coastal Chinese population

## TL;DR

A diet high in animal-based foods, sweets, and fried foods is linked to higher uric acid levels, especially in people under 60 in southeast coastal China.

## Contribution

Identifies specific dietary patterns associated with hyperuricemia in a Chinese population and highlights age-specific risk mediation.

## Key findings

- Higher consumption of animal-based foods and sweets increases hyperuricemia risk.
- The risk is notably higher in participants under 60 years old.
- Body mass index and fatty liver mediate the association in younger individuals.

## Abstract

Various foods or food groups and nutrients are correlated with serum uric acid levels. However, the findings were not consistent across different populations, and the mechanisms remain unclear.

In the baseline survey of the Fuqing Cohort, 4,326 participants were selected from Southeast coastal Chinese communities, and their dietary patterns were derived from a validated food frequency questionnaire using principal component analysis. Logistic regression was used to estimate the risk of hyperuricemia across the quintiles of each dietary pattern. Additionally, we performed mediation analysis to assess the potential mediating role of metabolic factors.

Based on the parallel analysis, four principal components were retained, explaining 46% of the total variance. Higher consumption of animal-based food (meat, fish, and seafood), bean products, sweets, desserts, and fried foods is significantly associated with an increased risk of hyperuricemia (Odds ratio for highest quintile of this dietary pattern vs. lowest: 1.36; 95% CI: 1.07, 1.72). Participants under 60 years showed a notably higher relative risk, which was significantly mediated by body mass index in combination with low-density lipoprotein and/or fatty liver.

Greater adherence to a high-protein diet, along with fried food, sweets, and desserts, increases the risk of hyperuricemia, particularly in people under 60 years of age. Moderate consumption of an animal-based diet and significantly reducing the intake of sweets and fried foods may help prevent the risk of hyperuricemia.