Uric Acid In Saliva Could Help Diagnose Cancer And Diabetes, Say Indian Scientists
Researchers reviewed studies that had observed the link between levels of uric acid in saliva and disease and concluded that a saliva test for uric acid could be a non-invasive method for diagnosing serious illnesses that are associated with oxidative stress.
The entire process of collecting blood samples for testing is really painful and uncomfortable, and no one enjoys going through that.
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And in case you¡¯re one of the many who feel this way, you¡¯d be happy to know that researchers have found that a simple saliva test looking for levels of uric acid could help in the diagnosis of several life-threatening conditions.
This is according to a review of studies by researchers from Datta Meghe University of Medical Sciences (yet to be deemed university) reported first by DailyMail.
Researchers at the aforementioned institute have highlighted that measuring levels of uric acid in saliva could help diagnose over a dozen medical conditions including dementia, cancer etc.
The saliva that we produce every day consists not just of water but over 700 micro-organisms and compounds, such as uric acid. The acid is created when the body processes purines -- compounds formed by damaged cells in the body.
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Uric acid is released from our body in the form of urine and is often known to cause gout due to high levels of uric acid in the body that forms crystals in joints and causes immense pain.
Researchers reviewed studies that had observed the link between levels of uric acid in saliva and disease and concluded that a saliva test for uric acid could be a non-invasive method for diagnosing serious illnesses that are associated with oxidative stress.
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Oxidative stress usually happens when the body isn¡¯t able to produce enough antioxidants to deal with the molecules called free radicals that destroy tissues through the process of oxidation. Oxidative stress is known to be associated with medical conditions such as type-2 diabetes.
Researchers state that abnormally high levels of uric acid can be a marker of high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, some kind of cancers as well as metabolic syndrome.
Professor Raj Persad, a consultant urologist at Bristol Urology, said in a statement ¡®We are continually looking for diagnostic markers such as uric acid that avoid invasive testing such as biopsy or blood testing. Not only might we diagnose conditions but we might use them to pre-empt attacks, with speedier checks than waiting for standard lab tests.¡±
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