Japanese researchers investigated whether sauna bathing alone or in combination with beer ingestion increases the plasma concentration of uric acid. Urine and plasma measurements were performed before and after five volunteers took a sauna bath, ingested beer or ingested beer just after taking a sauna bath, with a 2-week interval between each activity. Sauna bathing alone increased the plasma concentrations of uric acid and oxypurines (hypoxanthine and xanthine), and decreased the urinary and fractional excretion of uric acid, while beer ingestion alone increased the plasma concentrations and urinary excretion of uric acid and oxypurines. A combination increased the plasma concentration of uric acid and oxypurines, and decreased the urinary and fractional excretion of uric acid, with an increase in the urinary excretion of oxypurines. The increase in plasma concentration of uric acid with the combination protocol was not synergistic as compared to the sum of the increases by each alone. Body-weight, urine volume and the urinary excretion of sodium and chloride via dehydration were decreased following sauna bathing alone.