Uric acid is a waste product that results from the breakdown of purine, a nucleic acid. Uric acid is made in the liver and excreted by the kidneys. If the liver produces too much uric acid or the kidneys excrete too little, the patient will have too much uric acid in the blood. This condition is called hyperuricemia.In human blood, uric acid concentrations between 3.6 mg/dL (~214µmol/L) and 8.3 mg/dL (~494µmol/L) (1mg/dL=59.48 µmol/L) are considered normal by the American Medical Association.Although significantly lower levels are common in vegetarians due to a decreased intake of purine-rich meat.

Initially, hyperuricemia may cause no symptoms. But if untreated, it can lead to:

*Gout (Excess serum accumulation of uric acid can lead to a type of arthritis known as gout)
*Uric acid stones in the urinary tract
*Deposits of uric acid in the kidneys (uric acid nephropathy)
*Deposits of uric acid in the soft tissue (tophi)

If the level of uric acid in the blood goes too high it settles as crystals in a joint such as the big toe or the knee or in the kidney. This will cause great pain.