Diet and medication in the treatment of hyperuricemia in hypertensive patients

Abstract

Objective - To evaluate the effects of diet and medication, either isolated or associated, on serum levels of uric acid in patients with hyperuricemia. Methods - We studied patients from the Hypertension Unit of the University of Goias who had hyperuricemia (men≥8.5mg/dL and women≥7.5mg/dL). We divided the patients into three groups: G1 (low purine diet), G2 (low purine diet + medication), and G3 (medication only). Patients received allopurinol, 150mg/day titrated up to 300mg/dL when necessary. Patients were evaluated with regards to their lifestyles (diet, smoking, physical, activity, alcohol consumption), uric acid, blood pressure, use of medication, body mass index, cholesterol, and triglyceride. Follow-up took place in weeks 0 (M1), 6 (M2), 12 (M3) during the intervention and in week 36(M4) after the study was completed. Results - Fifty-five patients participated in the study, 31 women, mean age 54.4±10.6 years, body mass index 28.6±3.9kg/m2. A similar reduction (p<0. 001) in uric acid levels occurred in the three intervention groups. In week 36 (M4), after 24 weeks without intervention, a tendency toward elevation of uricemia was noted in G2 and G3, and a continuous drop in uricemia was noted in G1. No significant modifications were observed in the other variables analyzed. Conclusion - Considering the cost x benefit relationship, a diet low in purine should be the 1sttherapeutic option for controlling hyperuricemia in patients with similar characteristic to the ones presented in this study.