5 Effective Tips To Reduce High Uric Acid In Pregnancy

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Uric acid is produced in the body during metabolic activities and later eliminated by the kidneys. However, there is constant fluctuation in the levels of serum uric acid in pregnancy. These fluctuations occur due to hormonal and renal blood flow changes. Hence, it is an important marker for fetal and maternal health (1).

Increased uric acid levels in pregnancy may indicate complications such as high blood pressure, gestational hypertension, and preeclampsiaⁱXA pregnancy disorder characterized by high blood pressure, water retention, and protein content in urine  (2). Read on to know more about the complications and management of elevated uric acid levels during pregnancy.

Normal Levels Of Uric Acid During Pregnancy

According to the Journal of Human Hypertension, the serum concentration of uric acid may remain at around 185μM (31.1mg/L) in the first trimester (2). However, the uric acid level increases as the pregnancy proceeds and may reach around 278μM (46.7mg/L) in the third trimester. This increase in serum uric acid concentration is common and not a sign of any disorder.

However, women with preeclampsia have a higher level of serum uric acid in the third trimester than women without the disorder.

Complications Of High Uric Acid Levels During Pregnancy

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Some of the risks associated with high levels of uric acid during normal pregnancies are (1) (3) (4) (5):

• Higher risk of preterm birth and reduced time of delivery

• Risk of poor fetal prognosis and pregnancy outcomes in women

• Higher risk of lower fetal growth and lower birth weight

• Lower glomerular filtration rateⁱXA test to examine the efficiency of kidney filtration by measuring the rate at which the blood is cleaned and reduced renal function

• Some studies suggest that elevated levels of maternal serum uric acid can cause hypertensive pregnancy. However, other reputed studies counter this argument, suggesting that although a high uric acid level signifies a complication, it does not contribute to it.

• Hyperuricemia (elevated uric acid levels in the blood) and hypertensive pregnancy may cause complications to the various organ systems in the body that can increase the risk of maternal morbidity during pregnancy.

• High uric acid levels can lead to maternal health complications, including endothelial injury and dysfunction.

• Uric acid crystal (urate) deposition in the joints can cause gout, a condition of painful joints. However, gout is rarely seen in pregnant women (6) due to elevated estrogenⁱXA sex hormone responsible for the development of female sexual characteristics levels, which help remove uric acid.

Be watchful

Excess uric acid may settle in the kidneys as kidney stones. If left untreated, they may lead to kidney disease (12) (13).

Treatment Options For High Uric Acid Levels During Pregnancy

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A study suggests that lowering the elevated serum uric acid level has limited benefits for gestational hypertension and preeclampsia (7). Thus, it is essential to maintain health parameters and lower serum uric acid levels for optimum prenatal care.

The following are some available treatment options for high uric acid conditions in pregnancy (8):

• Chronic hypertension can be managed using hypertensive medications. Regular checkups to maintain healthy blood pressure limits are crucial during pregnancy for hypertensive women, and immediate care is required if the blood pressure is >160/110 mm Hg.

• Pregnant women with preeclampsia may receive magnesium sulfate treatment based on clinical signs of proteinuriaⁱXAn elevated presence of proteins in the urine, which may indicate kidney damage and severe hypertension.

• Medications can be taken in consultation with your health care provider to reduce the elevated serum uric acid

Prevention Of The Complications Of High Uric Acid Levels During Pregnancy

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Increased serum uric acid may pose a risk of adverse complications for the mother and the fetus. Some of these complications can be prevented in the following ways (8):

• Fetal monitoring and ultrasound to check for growth constraints.

• Doctors may suggest preterm delivery based on the disease severity and clinical risk factors such as
  • • Repeated occurrences of severe hypertension despite regular monitoring and medication
    • Thrombocytopenia or reduced platelet count
    • Abnormal liver or renal function and renal disease
    • Pulmonary edemaⁱXSwelling caused by fluid retention in the lungs or cardiovascular risk factors
    • Reduced fetal health and high risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes

Tips To Maintain Lower Serum Uric Acid Levels During Pregnancy

Elevated uric acid levels can be managed and prevented by maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Some steps to avoid high uric acid levels during pregnancy are (6) (9).

• Maintain a healthy weight by adhering to a strict exercise regime and diet plan.

• Keep diabetes in check with a healthy diet plan and reduce consumption of processed sugar and refined carbohydrates such as white bread.

• Consume vegetables and low-fat dairy products, and avoid purine-rich food such as red meat, poultry, oily fish, and seafood.

• Avoid saturated fatty processed foods and increase the intake of high fiber plant-based foods.

• If you do not have a renal problem, increase your fluid intake to remove the uric acid accumulated in the body.

Research finds

A preliminary study shows that consuming tart cherry juice may help reduce serum uric acid concentration (14).

Infographic: Food That May Increase Uric Acid Levels When Pregnant

Certain foods may contribute to increased levels of uric acid. It is not advisable to completely avoid such foods during pregnancy owing to their nutritional benefits, but they may be consumed in moderation. The infographic below gives insights into the dietary factors that may influence uric acid levels.

Illustration: Momjunction Design Team

During pregnancy, you may get a bought of gout. Find out in this video, with advice from experts on how to manage gout during pregnancy.

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Dr. Shashwat JaniMS

Dr. Shashwat Jani is a consultant obstetrician & gynecologist in Smt. N.H.L. Municipal Medical College, Ahmedabad. He has 14 years of experience with a special interest in high-risk pregnancy, infertility, and endoscopy. He has written 12 chapters in reference books of Ob/Gyn and published 18 articles in Index journals. Dr. Jani has been invited as faculty in more than 200...more

Anshuman MohapatraM.Tech (Biotechnology)

Anshuman Mohapatra is a biotechnology scientist with more than six years of research experience in analytical chemistry and biotechnology. He has submitted his PhD thesis at the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IIT Guwahati) and served as a research fellow (JRF/SRF) during his PhD tenure. His research interest includes analytical chemistry, neurobiology and lipid disorder diseases. Three of his research...more

Rebecca MalachiBSc

Rebecca is a pregnancy writer and editor with a passion for delivering research-based and engaging content in areas of fertility, pregnancy, birth, and post-pregnancy. She did her graduation in Biotechnology and Genetics from Loyola Academy, Osmania University and obtained a certification in ‘Nutrition and Lifestyle in Pregnancy’ from Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU). She has been into health and...more

Dr. Joyani DasM.Pharm, PhD

Dr. Joyani Das did her post-graduation from Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra and PhD in Pharmacology. Previously, she worked as an associate professor, faculty of Pharmacology, for two years. With her research background in preclinical studies and a zeal for scientific writing, she joined MomJunction as a health writer. Her research work was published in international journals and publications, such...more