A simple index comparing uric acid and good cholesterol to give context on metabolic balance.
The uric acid to HDL cholesterol ratio (UHR) is a calculated value, not a separate blood test. It compares uric acid, a waste product linked with inflammation and metabolic stress, with HDL cholesterol, the protective cholesterol.
The formula is: uric acid ÷ HDL cholesterol, using the units reported by the lab.
High uric acid and low HDL both feature in metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance. Combining them into one ratio aims to capture that metabolic pattern, and UHR has been studied as a marker of insulin resistance, fatty liver and cardiometabolic risk.
A higher ratio reflects more metabolic stress relative to protective cholesterol and has been associated with greater cardiometabolic risk. A lower ratio is more favourable.
Aniva reads your result against research-backed ranges, not just the lab's wide normal. The reference shown below is specific to this biomarker.
There is no firmly established healthy reference range for UHR. It is used in research as a relative marker, where higher values track with greater metabolic and cardiovascular risk. Interpret as a trend with a clinician rather than against a fixed cutoff.
Uric acid rises with high purine intake, alcohol, dehydration and some diuretics, and varies between people. HDL is affected by alcohol, smoking and some medications. These influences can move the ratio independently of underlying metabolic risk.
Read with its components, uric acid and HDL cholesterol, and alongside fasting glucose, triglycerides and the full lipid panel.
What does my result mean? A higher ratio can reflect higher uric acid, lower HDL, or both. A lower ratio often suggests a more favorable balance. Confirm with the individual tests.
Do I need to fast? No. Fasting is not routinely required for uric acid or HDL. Follow any specific instructions from your clinician.
What can affect the result? Alcohol, big purine-rich meals, dehydration, intense exercise, illness, diuretics, niacin, smoking, and high-dose vitamin C can shift values.
How often should I test? If tracking metabolic risk or gout, many people recheck every 3 to 6 months or as advised by their clinician.
How long do results take? Results are usually ready in about 7 days.
What should I discuss with my clinician? Ask how your ratio fits with uric acid, full lipids, and glucose markers, and which next steps, if any, make sense for you.
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