What is purine?

Purine is an organic compound present in the human body. It primarily exists in cells, tissues, and organs in the form of purine nucleotides and helps maintain normal physiological functions.

When there is excessive purine in the body, the liver converts it into uric acid. Most uric acid is excreted from the body through the kidneys. However, if uric acid is overproduced or not adequately excreted, it can lead to elevated levels of uric acid in the blood, resulting in hyperuricemia, which may further trigger diseases such as gout and uric acid kidney stones. Purine is converted into uric acid through the purine metabolic pathway. Under normal circumstances, uric acid is excreted from the body via the kidneys. However, abnormal purine metabolism or obstruction of uric acid excretion can lead to excessively high levels of uric acid, potentially causing hyperuricemia, gout, and other related diseases.

For individuals at risk of hyperuricemia, it is recommended to limit the intake of purine-rich foods, such as animal offal, seafood, and meat, to reduce uric acid production. Purine is an essential organic compound in the human body and is closely related to heredity, energy metabolism, and the balance of uric acid.