A very recent online publication has used mendelian randomization to investigate the association of plasma uric acid (SLC2A9) with ischaemic heart disease and hypertension (Palmer et al, BMJ 2013;347:f4262 doi: 10.1136/bmj.f4262) and concluded that there is no strong evidence for a causal association, and that the apparent link is confounded by body weight. Here, SLC2A9 is linked to heart disorder.