ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Nutr.
Sec. Nutrition and Metabolism
Low Initial Body Fat Percentage Exacerbates Skeletal Muscle Loss and Increases the Risk of Hyperuricemia During High-Altitude Acclimatization in Young Men
Yanlin Zhu
Jie He
Shuang Li
Jie Zhang
Huichang Jia
Yongjian Yang
Yi Li
Xianglian Li
Jian Li
Li Yunming
Yue Cheng
Chinese People's Liberation Army Western Theater General Hospital, Chengdu, China
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Abstract
Background: The incidence of hyperuricemia (HUA) increases significantly after individuals ascend to a high-altitude environment, particularly among young men. Previous studies have shown correlations between skeletal muscle mass, fat mass, and serum uric acid levels. However, whether changes in body composition under high-altitude conditions influence the occurrence of HUA has not been reported. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the effects of initial body fat percentage (BF%) and changes in body composition on the development of HUA in young men after one year at high altitude. Methods: In this prospective observational study, 216 young men who relocated from a plain area to a high-altitude area for one year were enrolled. Data on basic information, body composition, and laboratory measurements were collected both before relocation and after the one-year period. Results: After one year at high altitude, skeletal muscle mass (SMM) decreased significantly. Linear regression analysis revealed that the change in SMM was correlated with the initial BF%; a lower initial BF% was associated with a more pronounced decrease in SMM (b=0.186, P<0.001). A total of 136 participants (62.96%) were diagnosed with HUA after one year. Binary logistic regression analysis revealed high altitude (OR=2.217, P<0.05), low SMM (OR=0.920, P<0.05), low initial BF% (4-8%: OR=3.142, P<0.05; ≤4%: OR=4.489, P<0.01), and a decrease in SMM (-1.5 to -2.5 kg: OR=2.599, P<0.05; ≤-2.5 kg: OR=3.263, P<0.05) as risk factors for HUA. After adjusting for altitude and SMM, a decrease in SMM (-1.5 to -2.5 kg: OR=2.735, P<0.05; ≤-2.5 kg: OR=3.198, P<0.05) and low initial BF% (4-8%: OR=2.687, P<0.05; <4%: OR=3.708, P<0.01) remained predictive factors for HUA. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that for young men moving from plains to high altitudes, the BF% and the change in SMM can be used to predict the incidence of hyperuricemia after one year.
Summary
Keywords
High Altitude5, hyperuricemia1, Initial Body Fat Percentage2, Skeletal Muscle Mass3, Young Men4
Received
06 January 2026
Accepted
18 February 2026
Copyright
© 2026 Zhu, He, Li, Zhang, Jia, Yang, Li, Li, Li, Yunming and Cheng. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
*Correspondence: Li Yunming; Yue Cheng
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