Most people associate uric acid with gout, but emerging research suggests it may be far more important. Elevated uric acid has been linked to hypertension, cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, insulin resistance, endothelial dysfunction, and accelerated aging. While many laboratories consider levels up to 7.0 mg/dL “normal,” evidence suggests that levels below 5.5 mg/dL—and ideally near 5.0 mg/dL—may provide greater protection against vascular injury and chronic disease. U

Metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), formerly called fatty liver, is not a liver problem alone—it is a systemic marker of insulin resistance. Often silent for years, MASLD signals elevated cardiometabolic, cognitive, and longevity risk long before abnormal liver enzymes or diabetes appear.