What is an optimal uric acid level?
The short answer
An optimal uric acid level is 2.4–5 mg/dL. Dr. Peter Attia and Dr. Robert Lustig both put the ceiling at 5. You can watch Attia say it below.
Most labs call uric acid high only above 6. So your report can call 5.5 normal while it sits above where these doctors want it.
The stated optimal differs by sex: 2.4–5 mg/dL for women, 3.4–5 mg/dL for men. Labs print different ranges by sex: about 2.4–6 mg/dL for women and 3.4–7 for men.
“I like to see uric acid below 5.0 — again, most labs consider anything below 6 to be normal, some labs even consider anything below 7 to be normal.”
Where a number lands, and who said so
The rows below use the range labs print for women. For men it is 3.4–7 mg/dL.
- under 2.4 mg/dL Most labs flag this as low
- 2.4–5 mg/dL The range Dr. Peter Attia draws
- 5–6 mg/dL Normal on most reports. Above optimal“I like seeing uric acid below 5, homocysteine below 9 — these are some of the metrics that I'm really looking at consistently.” Dr. Peter Attia · 3:33 →
- over 6 mg/dL Most labs flag this as high
What uric acid measures
A waste product from breaking down purines, found in some foods and in your own cells.
It crystallises in joints to cause gout. It also tracks with blood pressure and metabolic problems.
Checked against MedlinePlus — Uric Acid Test.
One of the doctors we cite, on why it matters
“uric acid matters because uric acid is the inhibitor of endothelial nitric oxide synthase that's an enzyme that exists in your vascular tree that vaso dilates the blood vessels and that keeps your blood pressure down and we have shown that every increase by 10% in fructose consumption increases your blood pressure by two millimeters of mercury consistently and that increases your risk of stroke by 10%”
Common questions
What is an optimal uric acid level?
2.4–5 mg/dL, according to Dr. Peter Attia and Dr. Robert Lustig.
What is a normal uric acid level?
Most US labs print 2.4–6 mg/dL. Your report grades you against that range. It exists to catch disease, not to describe your best. Labs print different ranges by sex: about 2.4–6 mg/dL for women and 3.4–7 for men.
What does your uric acid number mean?
Under 2.4 mg/dL, your report marks it low. Between 2.4 and 6 it prints as normal. Over 6, your report marks it high. Where the people we follow draw their own line is above. Labs print different ranges by sex: about 2.4–6 mg/dL for women and 3.4–7 for men.
Is uric acid of 5.5 normal?
Your lab will call it normal. Dr. Peter Attia puts the ceiling at 5 mg/dL, so by that number it is high.
What does the uric acid test measure?
A waste product from breaking down purines, found in some foods and in your own cells. It crystallises in joints to cause gout. It also tracks with blood pressure and metabolic problems.
Where does this number come from?
Dr. Peter Attia, on video. The link above jumps straight to that minute.
Where else this number comes up
- “it's non-negotiable, all my patients need a uric acid below 5, even though the assay says we will consider normal up to seven point zero.” Dr. Robert Lustig · 21:19 →