Lemon fruits lower the blood uric acid levels in humans and mice

- Freshly squeezed lemon juice lowers the blood uric acid in hyperuricemic patients.
- Lemon water soluble extracts lower the blood uric acid level in hyperuricemic mice.
- There is no obvious side effects of consuming lemon juice in patients with hyperuricemia.

Hyperuricemia is a chronic metabolic disorder leading to gouty arthritis, kidney stones, hypertension, renal failure and even cardiovascular diseases in humans. In the present study, the role of the lemon fruit juice and/or the water soluble extracts in lowering the blood uric acid level was evaluated in both human subjects and mice. Fresh lemon fruits, excluding the peel and seeds, were used to prepare the juice and/or water soluble extracts. Human subjects with hyperuricemia were given the freshly squeezed pure lemon fruit juice daily at 30 mL/day (equivalent to a lemon a day) for 6 weeks. Human serum samples were collected for biochemical assessments at weeks 0 (basal line), 3, and 6, respectively. At the end of clinical study, fasting blood samples were collected for blood tests. Mice were given oxonic acid potassium (OA) to induce hyperuricemia. Hyperuricemic Mice were orally given the lemon fruit water soluble extracts at 10 mg/kg body weight and/or allopurinol at 5 mg/body weight for 11 consecutive days. At the end of study, the mice were euthanized and the blood and liver tissues were collected for biochemical tests. The results showed that the lemon fruit juice and/or the water soluble extracts significantly lowered serum uric acid levels in both human subjects and mice. Neither renal nor liver dysfunction was observed. The mechanistic results indicated that lemon might exert the role in lowering serum uric acid independent of inhibition of xanthine oxidase. The results lay a foundation for the future development of dietary treatments of hyperuricemia in humans.

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