A waste product of the breakdown of nucleic acids in body cells. A small amount is also produced by the digestion of foods rich in nucleic acids, such as liver, kidney, and other offal. Most uric acid produced in the body passes to the kidneys, which excrete it in the urine, but some passes into the intestine, where it is broken down into chemicals excreted in the faeces. When uric acid excretion is disrupted, for example by kidney disease, it may result in hyperuricaemia.
Uric acid |
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