Salivary Uric Acid

Intended Use

The Salimetrics Uric Acid Enzymatic Assay Kit is a colorimetric assay specifically designed and validated for the quantitative measurement of salivary Uric Acid. It is not intended for diagnostic use. It is intended only for research use in humans and some animals. Salimetrics has not validated this kit for serum or plasma samples.

Introduction

Uric Acid (UA) is an end product of purine nucleotide catabolism in humans that provides health benefits at normal levels, constituting a large portion of the antioxidant capacity of blood. In general, antioxidants are critical in minimizing the systemic physiological stress of free-radical oxygen species on the body preventing a condition known as Oxidative Stress. The cumulative damage caused by Oxidative Stress has been linked to a wide range of health problems including cancer, cardiovascular disease and age related neurodegenerative diseases among others. Therefore, the antioxidant properties of Uric Acid are thought to provide a protective role against these conditions. Consistent with this concept, a recent report indicates that high blood levels of Uric Acid may be protective against Alzheimer diseases.

Systemic Uric Acid concentrations are influenced by dietary levels of purine rich foods, body mass index (BMI), and cardiometabolic risk factors, such as high blood pressure, high density lipoprotein (HDL), triglyceride levels and fasting blood glucose. When Uric Acid concentrations are elevated in a condition known as hyperuricemia, significant harmful health effects result. Blood uric levels above 7 mg/dl leads to the formation of monosodium urate (MSU) crystals. After sustained hyperuricemia, these MSU crystals deposit in tendons and joints to cause severe diseases including gout, kidney stones and several forms of kidney disease. Gout is the most prevalent inflammatory arthritis worldwide and frequent monitoring of Uric Acid levels is critical for disease management. In the case of kidney stones, approximately 5-10% of the 3.3 million Americans seeking medical care for kidney stones are due to elevated Uric Acid. High blood Uric Acid levels are also associated with a wide variety of diseases including hypertension, increased cardiovascular mortality, obesity and metabolic syndrome.

Several studies have reported that a linear relationship exists between serum and salivary Uric Acid levels and salivary Uric Acid may be a useful biomarker for monitoring metabolic syndrome that may help mitigate cardiometabolic risk.

Salivary Uric Acid Assay Principle

This method utilizes a proprietary enzymatic reaction mixture that enables the detection of Uric Acid by the production of a red chromogen after a short incubation. This chromogen is quantitatively measured at a wavelength of 520 nm. The amount of Uric Acid in the sample is directly proportional to the increase in absorbance at this wavelength. For ease of use, the reaction is read in a 96-well microtiter plate with standard and controls provided.