We are naturally born with the ability of breaking down excess purines and uric acid for disposal. This important role is performed by the vital organ of your body, the liver. Let’s suppose that someone turns off the detoxification function of their liver. In less than 48 hours, the person will be in coma. If nothing is done to detox their blood, they will die from self-poisoning within 72 hours. Imagine your liver as an enterprise that has different departments and each job. You are the owner.
Let’s see…
Let’s suppose that you have 100 employees at your Liver Enterprise. Initial assignments include 20 for blood decomposition, 20 to convert extra calories to glycogen, 20 to break down excess amino acids (protein), 20 to toxics detox, 20 to break down purine to uric acid, and 20 to help with converting extra calories into glycogen for storage. The liver functions are distributed fairly well because that is what we were born with. As you get older, your liver functions change, especially in today’s society that is filled with emotional stress and chemically processed foods.
Your liver is working overtime to detoxify (those chemical drugs you take every day), convert extra calories to glycogen (look at how much fat you have), and break down excess amino acids (your hamburger, BBQ steak, etc). Your liver is preparing for a major crash.
Take Note
Let’s suppose you went to a party last night. You ate a lot of barbecue steaks, sausages and fried chicken and drank a few beers. Several hours later, your blood levels of alcohol and amino acids will rise and your body will signal your liver to work harder to remove the alcohol and to break down the excess amino acid. The liver is forced to temporarily shut down the Purine Department’ in order to make more power for the task at-hand. T
he purine (mainly from DNA & ATP) is forced to wait in the ‘Waiting Lounge” until the re-opening of the ‘Purine Section’. When you fall asleep at midnight, the ‘Alcohol and Amino Acid Emergency is over and the Purine Department reopens. Boom!!! All hell breaks loose! In a very short time, the long-awaited pool purine is released into the processing plant. A large amount of uric acid is also produced.
Conclusion
The Kidney is closed at midnight so this Tsunami of high-level uric acid cannot be disposed of through the kidneys as urine. The boss is soundly asleep and doesn’t like being woken up in middle of the night to do the ‘Pee Pee’ job. What now? You need to do something! The only way to get rid of uric acid is to force it out of the bloodstream into intercellular fluid, which eventually reaches the synovial fluid in your joint. Crystallization occurs when the concentration of uric acid in the synovial fluid exceeds the saturation point. This is known as a Gout Attack.