When you consume foods that contain purines, including organ meats, dried legumes, gravy, game meat and herring, it can increase the levels of uric acid in your body. Other causes of high uric acid include obesity, drinking excessive amounts of alcohol or caffeine, hypothyroidism, genetics, psoriasis, diuretics, Hodgkin's lymphoma and some immune-suppressing drugs. People who have high levels of uric acid sometimes have high levels of cortisol as well, but a relationship between the two conditions has not been established.
Cortisol
Cortisol is a steroid hormone that has roles in the circulatory system, bone, immune system, nervous system and metabolism. Cortisol is also part of the body's response to stress. Certain diseases, including Addison's disease and Cushing's disease, and medications including estrogen and prednisone can affect the body's cortisol levels. Having high levels of cortisol over time can increase your risk for digestive problems, heart disease, obesity, sleep problems, worsening of skin problems and memory impairment, according to MayoClinic.com.
High Uric Acid and Cortisol
Although high levels of uric acid and higher cortisol levels sometimes are present at the same time, there may not be a correlation. A study published in "The Journal of Endocrinology" in February 1968 found that the higher uric acid levels in chicks that received cortisol were not linked to the cortisol.
Risks of High Uric Acid Levels
High uric acid levels may increase your risk for type 2 diabetes, according to a study published in October 2010 in "The American Journal of Medicine." They may also be a warning sign or a cause of heart disease, high blood pressure or chronic kidney disease, notes MayoClinic.com, and people with gout may be more likely to experience symptoms when they have high levels of uric acid in their body.
Considerations
Both consistently high cortisol levels and consistently high uric acid levels may be detrimental to your health. Learning to better deal with stress can help keep your cortisol levels from staying consistently high, and limiting alcohol, caffeine and foods high in purines can help to lower your uric acid levels.
References
- MayoClinic.com: High Uric Acid Level
- The American Journal of Medicine: Serum Uric Acid Levels and the Risk of Type 2 Diabetes: A Prospective Study
- Medline Plus: Cortisol Level
- MayoClinic.com: Stress: Constant Stress Puts Your Health at Risk
- Journal of Endocrinology: Effect of Cortisol on Growth and Uric Acid Excretion in the Chick
