When the body processes purines, it produces uric acid as waste. Purines are found in the body and in certain foods, and uric acid gets dissolved in the blood. Most of the uric acid in the blood passes through the kidneys and is expelled as urine. When the body produces more uric acid than needed, or when the kidneys fail to remove enough of it, blood uric acid levels rise and may reach dangerous levels [1].
Blood uric acid levels are usually checked with a serum uric acid test. Normal uric acid levels depend on several factors such as age, sex, laboratory procedures, medication, and medical conditions.
What Is Considered a High Uric Acid Level?
Hyperuricemia is known as a condition with a high uric acid level. However, high uric acid does not necessarily imply that a person suffers from gout.
Studies indicate that uric acid tends to crystallize when the level in the blood nears the solubility point of uric acid at approximately 6.8 mg/dL. If this point is crossed, crystals can settle in the joints and cause gout attacks. [1]
Many people with high urate levels never experience gout, while some others suffer from its painful manifestations.
Uric Acid Levels Chart by Age & Gender
There is no one standard range for uric acid levels that is applied to all individuals. Each laboratory has its own reference limits defined in research studies.
| Group | Typical Serum Uric Acid Range |
| Adult men | 4.0–9.2 mg/dL |
| Adult women | 2.8–6.9 mg/dL |
| Young adults (19–48 years, women) | Generally lower than men |
| Women after around 49 years | Levels gradually increase |
| Men across adulthood | Higher than women, with gradual age-related changes |
Reference ranges may vary slightly depending on your laboratory and testing method.[2,3]
Why Uric Acid Levels Are Different in Men and Women?
Sex is one primary reason for variations in uric acid levels. Many studies show that men usually have higher levels of uric acid than women during most stages of their lives. This is basically due to the effect of the hormone estrogen, which actively enhances the urea elimination process in the human body.
According to a huge study on uric acid involving more than 15,000 individuals, the level of uric acid is measured as follows:
- Men: 4.0–9.2 mg/dL
- Women: 2.8–6.9 mg/dL [3]
After menopause, the uric acid levels in women usually increase, bringing women and men closer together.
Does Age Have an Effect on Uric Acid Levels?
Sure, but it is not that simple.
A new research project has analyzed a large amount of health information, and it showed that uric acid showed different changes in uric acid levels during
Men
After analyzing the data, scientists found out that men had increased levels of uric acid throughout the entire life span.
The reference intervals showed minimal impact of age on the metabolic process.
Women
Levels stay lower during reproductive years. Around the late 40s to early 50s, uric acid levels begin to rise, likely due to hormonal changes after menopause. [2]
Rather than using one fixed value for every age, researchers recommend interpreting results alongside age-specific laboratory reference intervals whenever available. [2]
What Does Uric Acid Level of 7 mg/dL Indicate?
A uric acid level of 7 mg/dL should always be evaluated in context.
In certain males, this level may be within the norm according to medical findings.
In the case of women, this level is considered elevated by many clinical studies.
Importantly, people suffering from gout have different goals when treating their disease than people with no obvious clinical symptoms.
It is recommended by the American College of Rheumatology that patients receiving treatment for gout should have a uric acid level less than 6 mg/dL.[4]
How Is a Uric Acid Test Done?
The serum uric acid test is a normal blood test. Depending on the laboratory you use, you may be required to fast. Medications and recent food intake can impact the results of this test; therefore, you must inform the health care provider about any medications and supplements that you are taking.
In case your result is abnormal, your physician may ask you to repeat the test or perform further investigation.
How to Maintain Healthy Uric Acid Levels?
If you have elevated uric acid levels, lifestyle changes may assist your medical treatment.
Helpful habits include:
- Drinking enough water
- Maintaining proper weight
- Reducing alcohol consumption
- Avoiding excessive intake of high-purine foods
- Drinking fewer sugary beverages
For people with gout only the lifestyle amendments alone may not be enough. They may need to take urate-lowering medications depending on their symptoms, recurrence, and general well-being.
When Should You See a Doctor?
Medical consultation is recommended if you:
- Experience persistently high levels of uric acid that are above your lab’s reference range.
- Have sudden and severe pain in your joints.
- Have recurring attacks of gout.
- Suffer from kidney stones or kidney disease with high blood uric acid levels.
- Observe continuous joint issues even after treatment changes to your lifestyle. [4]
The Bottom Line
Normal uric acid values are dependent on gender, age, and reference standards of a particular laboratory. Men generally have a higher level of uric acid than women, with women having a higher level of uric acid after menopause. [2,3]
A result within your laboratory’s reference range is not the same as the ideal result for a person suffering from gout issues. Among patients who are under gout treatment, current ACR guidelines state that a target serum uric acid level should be below 6 mg/dl. [4]
Never depend only on a single figure, but understand the value of your uric acid level by examining it along with your age, gender, signs and symptoms of the condition, kidney function, medications taken, and medical history.
FAQs
Q. What is the average amount of uric acid in the body of a person?
Most of the time, the levels of uric acid present in the blood range between 4.0–9.2 mg/dL for men, and between 2.8–7.5 mg/dL for women. However, these reference values may differ depending on the lab.
Q. Does uric acid level decrease with age?
Uric acid levels change with aging, and the tendencies among men and women are quite different. For instance, women see uric acid increase after menopause, while men have mostly stable uric acid levels throughout life.
Q. Is a uric acid level of 7 mg/dL high?
It depends on the sex of the person and the reference limits of the given lab. Specifically, for some men, 7 mg/dL of uric acid may be within the normal range, while for women it can be considered high.
Q. When does high uric acid cause gout?
Uric acid levels of 6.8 mg/dL or higher usually lead to the formation of uric acid crystals, but not everyone who has high uric acid levels suffers from gout, and diagnosis requires clinical examination.
Q. What uric acid levels to aim at when suffering from gout?
According to the American College of Rheumatology, an ideal target serum uric acid level for a person undergoing urate-lowering therapy is less than 6 mg/dL.
References:
1. Maiuolo J, Oppedisano F, Gratteri S, Muscoli C, Mollace V. Regulation of uric acid metabolism and excretion. Int J Cardiol. 2016;213:8-14.
2. Chen D, Zhou Y, Fan L, Yang Z, Yang D. Establishment of gender- and age-related reference intervals for serum uric acid in adults based on big data from Zhejiang Province in China. Clin Chem Lab Med. 2025;63(6):1199-1207.
3. Dório M, Benseñor IM, Lotufo P, Santos IS, Fuller R. Reference range of serum uric acid and prevalence of hyperuricemia: a cross-sectional study from baseline data of ELSA-Brasil cohort. Adv Rheumatol. 2022;62(1):15.
4. FitzGerald JD, Dalbeth N, Mikuls T, Brignardello-Petersen R, Guyatt G, Abeles AM, et al. 2020 American college of rheumatology guideline for the management of gout. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken) [Internet]. 2020;72(6):744–60. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/acr.24180
(The article is written by Deepa Sarkar, Senior Medical Writer, and reviewed by Monalisa Deka, Deputy Manager, Clinical Health & Content, Medical Affairs)
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