# Association among serum uric acid, hyperactivity, impulsivity and dietary components in adults: a cross-sectional study Uric acid, hyperactivity/impulsivity symptoms, and dietary components in adults

## TL;DR

This study finds that higher uric acid levels are linked to increased hyperactivity and impulsivity in adults with psychiatric disorders, even after adjusting for diet and other factors.

## Contribution

The study is the first to show a direct link between serum uric acid and hyperactivity/impulsivity symptoms in psychiatric patients, independent of dietary components.

## Key findings

- Higher serum uric acid levels predict increased hyperactivity/impulsivity symptoms in psychiatric patients.
- Uric acid levels are negatively associated with dietary fiber, vitamin C, and copper intake.
- Hyperactivity correlates with zinc intake, and impulsivity with alcohol consumption.

## Abstract

A positive association has been reported between elevated serum levels of uric acid (UA) with impulsivity and hyperactivity, behavior in murine models, and human psychopathologies. Still, other factors, such as diet composition, have not been considered. This study aims to determine the association between serum UA, impulsivity/hyperactivity symptoms, and dietary components in adults with psychiatric disorders.

A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted on 128 adults who attended a psychiatric service. Fasting serum UA levels were determined by spectrophotometry. Impulsivity and hyperactivity symptoms were evaluated using the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS). Dietary components, including macronutrients, fiber, fructose, added sugar, vitamin C, zinc, copper, n-3 fatty acids, caffeine, and alcohol, were estimated using a 24-hour recall, food models, and nutrition software. Spearman's correlation and general linear models were applied. The last was used to adjust for confounders.

Serum UA levels were positively correlated to symptoms of hyperactivity/impulsivity and hyperactivity (Rho = 0.206, p= 0.020; Rho = 0.194, p= 0.028, respectively). Those correlations remained significant after adjusting for confounders. Every 1 mg/dl increase in serum UA levels predicted an elevation of 1.5 points of the hyperactivity/impulsivity symptoms (p= 0.002; p-model< 0.001) and 1 point of the hyperactivity symptoms (p= 0.003; p-model < 0.001). Hyperactivity/impulsivity symptoms together and separated were positively correlated with depression (Rho = 0.470, Rho = 0.389, Rho = 0.485; all p< 0.001, respectively). Serum UA levels negatively correlated with dietary intake of total fiber, vitamin C, and copper but positively with waist circumference (Rho = −0.297, Rho = −0.185, Rho = −0.212, and Rho = 0.203, all p < 0.05, respectively). Hyperactivity correlated with dietary zinc, while impulsivity correlated with alcohol consumption (Rho = −0.185 and Rho = 0.195, p< 0.05, respectively).

The serum UA concentration independently predicts hyperactivity/impulsivity symptoms in adults with psychiatric disorders.