Serum Uric Acid as a Cardiovascular Risk Marker: Differential Effects of Ketogenic Diet and Intermittent Fasting in Postmenopausal Women.
B, P., L, P., M, P., G, N., G, M., S, D.M., P, G., L, D.R., E, B., & G, T. (2026). Serum Uric Acid as a Cardiovascular Risk Marker: Differential Effects of Ketogenic Diet and Intermittent Fasting in Postmenopausal Women.. Nutrients. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu18121912
B P, L P, M P, G N, G M, S DM, et al. Serum Uric Acid as a Cardiovascular Risk Marker: Differential Effects of Ketogenic Diet and Intermittent Fasting in Postmenopausal Women.. Nutrients. 2026; doi: 10.3390/nu18121912
B P, L P, M P, et al. Serum Uric Acid as a Cardiovascular Risk Marker: Differential Effects of Ketogenic Diet and Intermittent Fasting in Postmenopausal Women.[J]. Nutrients. 2026. DOI: 10.3390/nu18121912.
@article{b2026,
author = {Pala B and Pennazzi L and Piscione M and Nardoianni G and Miletti G and De Mitri S and Gualtieri P and Di Renzo L and Barbato E and Tocci G},
title = {Serum Uric Acid as a Cardiovascular Risk Marker: Differential Effects of Ketogenic Diet and Intermittent Fasting in Postmenopausal Women.},
journal = {Nutrients},
year = {2026},
doi = {10.3390/nu18121912},
note = {PMID: 42356298},
}
TY - JOUR AU - Pala B AU - Pennazzi L AU - Piscione M AU - Nardoianni G AU - Miletti G AU - De Mitri S AU - Gualtieri P AU - Di Renzo L AU - Barbato E AU - Tocci G TI - Serum Uric Acid as a Cardiovascular Risk Marker: Differential Effects of Ketogenic Diet and Intermittent Fasting in Postmenopausal Women. T2 - Nutrients PY - 2026 DO - 10.3390/nu18121912 AN - PMID:42356298 ER -
BACKGROUND: Serum uric acid (UA) is increasingly recognized as a cardiovascular (CV) risk factor, with evidence suggesting that CV risk may occur at levels below conventional hyperuricemia thresholds. However, real-world comparative data on the effects of dietary interventions on UA are limited. OBJECTIVE: The primary objective of this study was to compare the effects of a very low-calorie ketogenic diet (VLCKD), intermittent fasting (IF), and standard dietary advice (free diet, FD) on UA levels and UA-defined CV risk in hypertensive postmenopausal women. METHODS: In this prospective, single-center, real-world clinical study, 43 women with essential hypertension and obesity underwent dietary interventions. UA levels were assessed at baseline and after 6 months. Hyperuricemia was defined using both the conventional threshold (≥6.0 mg/dL) and the CV risk-oriented Uric Acid Right for Heart Health (URRAH) cut-off (≥4.7 mg/dL). Analyses included paired tests and ANCOVA adjusted for baseline UA. RESULTS: At baseline, over half of participants exceeded the URRAH threshold. Only VLCKD significantly reduced UA levels (-1.23 mg/dL; p < 0.001), remaining independently associated after adjustment (β = -0.95 mg/dL; p = 0.007). URRAH-defined CV risk decreased significantly only in the VLCKD group (55.6% to 22.2%), with one-third transitioning to lower risk. CONCLUSIONS: VLCKD significantly reduced UA levels and UA-defined CV risk, supporting its role as a potentially effective lifestyle intervention in this population.