Uric Acid with Dr. Ben Bikman

Why don't we have more professors like this gifted educator?

Dr. Bikman, If this is how you talk to your kids, they are truly blessed! Your heart comes out when you talk! Thank you, sir, for teaching outside the classroom! We need your lectures!

Thank you for not focusing on gout. I've had gout. Although painful I doubt many people have died from it. In reality, gout is a blessing in that it should alert you to hyperuricemia and the possibility of uric acid crystals elsewhere. We may become aware of gout with a joint hurting but uric acid crystals have been found many places-- in coronary arteries, aorta, heart valves, myocardium, kidneys, prostate, and pancreas amongst others. Crystals have even been found in atherosclerotic plaques. Its frequency is VERY underappreciated because it's hard to detect. Routine tissue fixation with formalin washes out uric acid crystals. Likewise, tissue is usually cut 7 microns thick for microscopy. Uric acid crystals are usually linear and, if they're perpendicular to the slide, will appear as a small dot. To see uric acid crystals one has to preserve the tissue with methanol, not formalin. Following this, special lighting is required to see the crystals. Studies which have employed this method have shown crystals to be far more extensive than the joints. I can't imagine that uric acid crystals in the coronary arteries initiating an inflammasome reaction is good. Uric acid crystals don't show well on routine x-rays and scans. It usually requires a specialized cat scan called dual energy CT (DECT scan). These scans will often show uric acid crystals in the calcium in atherosclerotic plaques. Unfortunately gout is treated poorly. Give an anti-inflammatory and if it recurs we'll "think about" treatment with allopurinol or febuxostat. Hyperuricemia, not JUST uric acid crystals, IS serious. It's like a criminal whose fingerprints are left behind at many crime scenes- the heart, kidneys, liver, pancreas. The tragedy is that we have good drugs and it's usually easy to treat. Anyone diagnosed with gout or hyperuricemia should be thoroughly evaluated for heart, liver, and kidney disease. For every molecule or uric acid produced there is also a molecule of hydrogen peroxide generated. I've often wondered how much pathology is caused by this, as opposed to the uric acid itself.

Thank you so much for your videos. I have developed fatted liver, Hasimotos, kidney stones and type 2 diabetes. The only one I was told about was the kidney stones when I went to the ER. Fatter liver I learned about when I got a copy of the report. Never once has any doctor told me about any if the issues. The diabetes I found by buying a glucose blood meter. You have given me a path to regain my health. God bless you!!!

The more I listen to these lectures, the easier they are to understand.

Professor Bikman, you are so gifted with your explanations, thank you so much for sharing!

I eliminated gout completely by skipping all fructose (fruit & sugar)

I am a retired MD and really appreciate your lessons and what I learn. I am not so sure about allulose though. Side effect bloating always tells me that something messes up your gut microbiome. I prefere reducing sweets to an occasional treat which gets easy the longer you are on a rather low carb diet.

Thank you Dr Bikman, as always it is a pleasure to be in your classroom. I have someone in my life with gout and they significantly decreased fruit and fruit juice and he is eating more meat, and has not had another gout attack after making those changes.

Not all gout is caused by uric acid. Unless the joint fluid is tested, it is just assumed its the uric acid. For those on carnivore etc, if you have gout, it could be oxalate crystals. Stored up oxalates (from when plants were eaten) get released from the body in cycles (can take years). If the load is too much to excrete at once, the oxalates get 'dumped' around the body waiting for excretion, causing many different symptoms. Its common for the oxalate crystals to be found in joints, and big toe gout. Feels the same as uric acid crystals... Most doctors assume big toe pain and swelling is uric acid crystals but there are other causes for the same symptoms. Sally Norton is the expert for oxalates. She explains how to slow down the 'dumping' and manage the symptoms.

Thank you Professor Ben Bikman. I have enjoyed your social media posts over the last three years. Disciplined carnivore for 4 years, Uric Acid 11.7 - 13.2 mg/dL over those three years. This could be life changing for me. More to come.

What a great teacher! Thank you Dr. Bikman, the podcast host, the sponsor and the insightful viewers. May our quality of life improve everyday.❤

Thank you so much for your explanations. I was with you until AMP came into the picture, then I sort of glazed over, but please don't stop giving us the details! I just need to go back and listen again. The college age kids may get it in one try, but at 72, I'm still passionate about learning and improving my health, but need to hear it more than once :) So appreciative for your videos and your gentle style that brings a complicated subject down to our level. You, Sir, are a gift.

As someone who loved chemistry and got through qualitative analysis in college, I love listening to you. as someone who has used the ketogenic diet to go from 180 pounds and 60 units of insulin to 120 pounds and no medicine I am thrilled to listen to you. Thank you.

It still amazes me that we know so much about cells and their specific jobs .but what's even more amazing is the ability of this ADr. to explain it in layman terms! Thanks a lot from a true fan

"Why we get sick " should be in every doctor's office: waiting room & exam room

I tell you this man is making BYU look really good on YouTube science lectures ..

I've watched many Videos on uric acid This is the best by far.

I feel like I am back in my 2 favorite nursing school classes, Anatomy & Physiology and Endocrinology, with a big twist, up-to-date research and knowledge about what is making us sicker. Thank you Dr Bickman. I am eager to inform my hubby so he/we can implement some changes that may work. He suffers regularly from gout attacks and takes a toxic medication since that is the only thing that alleviates his pain and allows a modicum of relief and mobility. 🎉🎉🎉

Morning coffee with Ben!!!! My favorite teacher ever🎉 Great topics always❤