Wellness Center

Diet and Risk of Gout

Gout is the most common form of inflammatory arthritis in men and affects more than 3.4 million people yearly. Gout is caused by the buildup of uric acid in the joints. It most commonly causes pain and tenderness in the joints of the big toe, ankle, and knees but it can occur in any joint. Gout also affects women but usually after menopause. Gout can be very painful and impair walking. The best treatment for gout is prevention!

A recent study reported in the The New England Journal Of Medicine found certain dietary practices linked to gout. The study included 47,000 healthy men studied for 12 years to see who would develop gout.

Research Findings:

• Those persons eating the most meat (beef, lamb, or pork) were 41 percent more likely to develop gout compared to those with a low intake of meat (see chart).
  
  

• Those eating the most seafood had a 51 percent higher risk of developing gout
  
  
• Those drinking two glasses of non-fat milk daily had a 41 percent lower risk of developing gout compared to those drinking less than one glass of milk daily. Nonfat milk appears to be protective against gout.
  
  
• A higher intake of vegetable proteins did not increase the risk of gout; neither did a moderate intake of purine-rich vegetables.
  
  
• Persons who drank alcohol had a higher risk of gout.
  
  
• Overweight persons were more likely to develop gout.
  

Summary

If you want to prevent gout:

• Maintain a healthy weight, or lose weight if overweight.
  
  
• Avoid or limit your alcohol intake.
  
  
• Eat healthy foods: primarily a plant based diet, use nonfat milk and dairy products, avoid or limit meat and seafood .
  
  
• Drink plenty of water.
  
  
• Exercise moderately daily .
  
  
• See you doctor if needed - medications can help.
  

Source:

1. Choi HK et al. Purine-rich foods, dairy, and protein intake, and the risk of gout in men. New England Journal of Medicine. 350:1093-103, March 11, 2004.

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