HealthJuly 6, 2026

purine

/ˈpjʊə.riːn/

Definition

A type of nitrogenous chemical compound found in many foods that the body breaks down into uric acid.

Etymology

The word is derived from the German 'Purin,' coined in 1884 by chemist Emil Fischer. It combines the Latin 'purus' (pure) and 'urinum' (urine) to describe the specific chemical structure he isolated.

In the news

The article warns that sardines are high in purines, which can be problematic for people with gout who need to limit their intake of substances that elevate uric acid levels.

4 Health Benefits of Sardines

Read the full article ↗

Cleveland Clinic Health Essentials

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