Fifth, you can also assess diet and mitochondrial function by measuring uric acid, which rises with sugar consumption. High uric acid levels lead to gout and hypertension, and also generate liver fat. Uric acid is a by-product of liver carbohydrate metabolism, especially when it metabolizes sugar. This prevents the mitochondria from metabolizing pyruvic acid to carbon dioxide, which forces the liver to turn excess energy into liver fat. Levels above 5.5 indicate mitochondrial dysfunction and insulin resistance.
