Interaction Between Lactate and Uric Acid is Associated With a Higher Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome: A Community-Based Study

Background: Increased blood lactate or uric acid (UA) levels are associated with an increased risk of metabolic syndrome (MS). The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of an interactive association between blood lactate and UA levels on MS.

Methods: This community-based cross-sectional study included 2584 Chinese subjects aged ≥ 18 years. Participants were classified into 3 groups based on lactate or UA level tertiles or into 9 groups based on a combination of lactate and UA level tertiles.

Results: The serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) levels and odds ratios (ORs) for MS increased across the blood lactate or UA level tertiles (all P for trend<0.05). Interactions between lactate and UA with hs-CRP level, HOMA-IR level, and ORs for MS (P<0.05 for all interactions) were also observed. The adjusted ORs for MS in participants in the third tertile of lactate and UA levels, in the third tertile of lactate levels and first tertile of UA levels, and in the first tertile of lactate levels and third tertile of UA levels were 6.02 (95% CI 2.87-12.64, P<0.001), 2.92 (95% CI 1.39-6.10, P=0.005), and 2.70 (95% CI 1.23-5.96, P=0.014), respectively, compared with those in the first tertiles of both lactate and UA levels.

Conclusion: The interaction between lactate and UA is associated with a higher prevalence of MS in the Chinese population.