MANAGEMENT OF ASYMPTOMATIC HYPERURICEMIA IN CHILDREN: A DIETARY APPROACH.

There is a steady worldwide rise in childhood obesity. With this there is also an increased risk for children to develop metabolic diseases later if not earlier in life. The support for this notion comes from dyslipidemia in children, abnormal glucose homeostasis, increased pro-oxidant and decreased anti-oxidant markers. Hyperuricemia is one such marker that is more common in obese children. Although, at early stages hyperuricemic children do not exhibit any disease, they are at a higher risk for developing metabolic diseases later in life. Therefore, the question arises, "Should we treat asymptomatic children for hyperuricemia?" Since our experience of long-term pharmacologic management of hyperuricemia is nonexistent, we recommend use of nutritional interventions to manage hyperuricemia in children. These may include lifestyle changes and better nutrition through inclusion of supplemental vitamin C, folic acid, dietary fiber, prebiotics and probiotics in diet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]