How Uric Acid Shaped Human Evolution and Fuels Hypertension Today
Dr. Kumar’s Take:
This study reveals something fascinating: a mutation millions of years ago raised uric acid levels in our ancestors, helping them maintain blood pressure when dietary salt was scarce. That survival tool has now turned into a vulnerability. In today’s high-salt world, the same elevated uric acid contributes to salt-sensitive hypertension, kidney damage, and heart disease.
Key Takeaways:
✔ Humans lost uricase, the enzyme that lowers uric acid, during the Miocene era.
✔ Higher uric acid helped maintain blood pressure in low-salt diets but now drives hypertension.
✔ Animal studies show uric acid directly raises blood pressure by activating the renin-angiotensin system and damaging kidney vessels.
✔ Modern high-salt diets make this ancient adaptation harmful.