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Tara's avatar

Yet ANOTHER fantastic newsletter, Maryann! I always thoroughly appreciate what you do for us midlife women!!!

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Maryann Jacobsen's avatar

Thanks so much Tara!

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Jenna's avatar

Does a normal blood panel done at physicals test for uric acid levels?

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Maryann Jacobsen's avatar

Not usually from my experience. It’s something you can ask for.

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Lisa Zunzunegui's avatar

sharing with my Mom,who has giut, kidney issues heart issues, high blood pressure, high triglycerides and type 2 diabetes. this is super helpful

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Maryann Jacobsen's avatar

Thanks Lisa. She might check her uric acid already as many people with gout do.

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Lisa Zunzunegui's avatar

also so glad I found you. Mom had a total hysterectomy at 29, so lucky me, first and only one to go thru the pause with no idea how it affected Mom. Playing guinea pig and sharing all info with my daughter so she's informed when the time comes.

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Lisa Zunzunegui's avatar

they do but not consistently.

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Ernestina Call's avatar

At one point you wrote, “Her diet shifted to more animal protein, less plant-based protein, and no dairy.’ A bit further down you said she shifted her diet to more plant food and dairy to correct the high uric levels. Am I reading it incorrectly? (I haven’t had my coffee, so That’s very possible 😊☕️

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Maryann Jacobsen's avatar

Yes she was eating high animal protein and after finding out about her uric acid included more plants and brought back dairy/vitamin C which brings down uric acid.

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Flotsam's avatar

Hi, I was also confused by this, so to be sure, plants and dairy are good? Thanks!

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Maryann Jacobsen's avatar

Yes. I’ll edit to be more clear.

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Biljana's avatar

Thanks, I was also confused by this! I clicked on the PubMed article linked, and though I cannot understand much of it, the abstract concludes: "Conclusions: Collectively, a plant-based dietary pattern is negatively associated with SUA (serum uric acid) levels and hyperuricemia. Therefore, a plant-based dietary pattern should be recommended for the management of SUA levels and the prevention of hyperuricemia." As far as I can tell..... High SUA bad; eat more plant proteins to lower SUA. Correct?

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Maryann Jacobsen's avatar

We need a lot more research which makes it hard. But yes, we can look at our diet and make changes and see what works. So far it seems plant based, vitamin C, dairy (calcium) and coffee helps lower UA/and or linked with lower UA but limited research for sure.

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M Gazelle's avatar

Does NO affect cholesterol levels?

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M Gazelle's avatar

Thank you.

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Maryann Jacobsen's avatar

They are related with research showing that high cholesterol levels can decrease nitric oxide production. Some research shows beetroot juice can decrease LDL cholesterol and increase HDL but more studies are needed. https://mlj.goums.ac.ir/article-1-1224-en.pdf

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Kristi Koeter's avatar

Oh my goodness this was such a helpful article. I really wish we saw more such as these. I’m gonna go back through my most recent labs to see if I have that tested. You did not mention this, but if this is related to a decrease in estrogen, would hormone therapy address it?

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Maryann Jacobsen's avatar

Women on hormone therapy show lower uric acid but because the amount of estrogen is less than before, I think it's good to monitor levels.

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emlou's avatar

I recently had a ton of labs done, but I could only find urea nitrogen. Is this a good stand-in or does it need to be uric acid specifically?

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Maryann Jacobsen's avatar

No it needs to be uric acid.

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