Randomisation Allocation And Blinding
All consenting participants will be block randomised in a 1:1 allocation to either a tart cherry juice group or a placebo cherry-flavoured drink group with stratification by sex and smoking status. Allocation sequence will be generated using a computer random number generator by an investigator not involved in participant enrolment and data collection and concealed from research personnel until the completion of the trial. The study coordinator who will be responsible for participant enrolment, distribution of intervention drinks and data collection will be blinded to treatment allocation until results have been analysed. Drinks will be provided to participants in identical bottles and labelled with participant identification number only to ensure that both study coordinator and participants are blinded to drink allocation throughout the study.
How Cherries May Help Prevent Gout
Scientists know that cherries contain high levels of antioxidants, including anthocyanins and quercetin, as well as other nutrients. It is unclear how these nutrients may work individually or together to lower urate levels and decreases the chance of a gout attack.
Some researchers2 theorize that cherries:
- Have anti-inflammatory properties that may reduce the painful inflammation related to gout attacks
- May help counteract the process that leads to changes in bones in gout-affected joints
- Reduce oxidative stress , which is associated with gout
Experts suspect that oxidative stress in the body begins a biochemical cascade that promotes inflammation, which over time leads to gout and other degenerative diseases.
More researchparticularly large studies involving human subjectsis needed to find out exactly if and how cherries prevent gout attacks.
See Gout Prevention
Treat The Gout Not The Elevated Uric Acid Level
- Dr. keith Roach
Dear Dr. Roach I got a call from my internist that my blood test showed an elevated uric acid and I would need to start allopurinol for gout. I had been having big-toe pain at night. A nurse friend gave me some of her tart cherry extract pills to take until I started medication. Before picking up the medication, I read online about people who had affirmed time and time again that taking tart cherry, in almost any form, relieved their gout pain. I decided to continue it to see how long the relief would last.
That was three years ago, and I have not needed the allopurinol nor had to worry about the side effects that can accompany it. I do not take the tart cherry pills/capsules daily, only when twinges start. Sometimes I just keep tart cherry juice or the canned cherries themselves on hand. Much easier, and cheaper as well. P.B.
Answer Im glad it worked for you, and it gives me a chance to talk about the difference between gout and having high uric acid levels.
Tart cherries as juice, extract or whole fruit reduce uric acid levels and risk of gout flares in people with a history. However, any treatment to reduce uric acid levels can have the paradoxical effect of precipitating an attack in the short term.
Dr. Roach regrets that he is unable to answer individual letters, but will incorporate them in the column whenever possible. Readers may email questions to .
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How Can You Prevent Gout
To prevent gout attacks, start by limiting your consumption of sugars.
Drink plenty of fluids, with water being your best choice.
Do your best to control emotional and physical stress, as this can cause your flare-ups to be even more severe.
Consult your personal physician to help control the pain and keep your condition from worsening.
Treatments for gout have advanced over the years, including the development of allopurinol, a drug to prevent attacks.
Speak with your orthopedic surgeon or personal physician about possible pharmaceuticals for gout.
Many people with gout suffer from multiple conditions, and medication interactions and side-effects should be considered.
Thankfully, there is a natural remedy for the symptoms of gout available, as well.
The Power Of Tart Cherries
For those suffering from gout, you may find relief with the power of tart cherries .
In fact, studies suggest that about 25% of people with gout use these and want to avoid problems with pharmaceuticals.
Tart cherries have been noted for their aid in alleviating symptoms of gout thanks to their rich antioxidant content and anti-inflammatory powers.
These small fruits help to alleviate inflammation, a key element of a gout attack.
One study of 633 patients with gout demonstrated that cherry intake is associated with a lower risk of gout attacks.
Scientists believe that part of the reason cherries might work is that they increase the excretion of urate and also limit the production of uric acid in the liver.
The abundant urate crystals in those with gout stimulate the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines.
Cherry counteracts this problem and also protects the body and joints by providing good antioxidant coverage.
This is an excellent non-pharmacological option for the treatment of many of the problems associated with gout.
Tart cherries have many phytochemicals that help, but cyanidin is the most prevalent compound.
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Cherry Health Benefits: Arthritis And Gout Relief
North America’s super fruit… the Montmorency Tart Cherry. What makes this ruby red fruit so great? Not only are they delicious in all forms, but they really pack a punch in terms of health benefits. The bright red color of the skin makes this fruit beautiful to look at, as well as being the source behind all of the health promoting properties.
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Become A Believer In Tart Cherry For Gout
It usually starts something like this: Its the middle of the night, and youre woken from a sound sleep by a throbbing pain in your big toe. You feel like someone has your toe in a vice grip. Its red and swollen and even feels warm to the touch. The pain is intense for a day or two and then slowly subsides after a week or more. Youve got gout.
Gout is caused by a buildup of uric acid in the blood. The uric acid crystallizes in the joint often the big toeand causes severe pain and inflammation. These are not mild aches and discomfort. Many who suffer from gout tell me that the pain is excruciating, making it hard to walk or even dress themselves. Some have resorted to sleeping with a box around their foot because they cant stand to have even a bed sheet touch their toe.
Uric acid is a chemical your body creates when it breaks down purines, a substance found naturally in the body and concentrated in some foods, like red meat, beans, and alcohol. When your body cant rid itself of uric acid, it builds up and forms sharp crystal deposits. These deposits often accumulate in joints, including the joint of the big toe, ankles, heels, wrists, and fingers. Thats gout.
In all these studies, side effects were minimal or non-existent. This makes cherries a great alternative to pharmaceutical treatments with pages of serious warnings attached to them.
The Science of Tart Cherries
Better Brain Function Yes That Too
Your brain is the control center of your body, and you need to protect it.
That doesnt mean you have to walk around wearing a helmet all day every day, but it does mean you should be eating foods that protect it.
Due to tart cherries high concentration of antioxidants, regular consumption may help to function like that helmet and protect your noggin.
Like weve said before, antioxidants work to prevent cellular DNA damage from free-radicals, which were exposed to from things like biochemical processes in the body, exercise, smoking and alcohol, environmental pollution, and more .
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Study Design And Setting
The study is a 12-month, double-blind, two-armed, parallel RCT performed in adults aged 18 to 80 years, with an existing clinical diagnosis of gout and who have reported at least one gout flare in the last 12 months. The intervention group will receive a daily supplement of tart cherry juice and the placebo group will receive a cherry-flavoured drink. The primary outcome measure will be between-group difference in the frequency of gout flares from baseline to 12 months. Secondary outcome measures will be between-group differences in gout flare pain, serum urate concentration, fractional excretion of uric acid, blood lipids and recognised markers of inflammation , oxidative stress and vascular function . Changes in physical activity, perceived health and pain will also be secondary outcomes. Non-efficacy outcomes will include dietary intake measures, for example total energy, total sugars and consumption of gout trigger foods. Each participant will be enrolled onto the study for 12 months physical and vascular measurements and fasted blood and 24hours urine samples will be collected at 0, 6 and 12 months. These measurements will be made at Sheffield Hallam University’s Food and Nutrition Research Laboratories in Sheffield, UK. Laboratory visits will be postponed for any participant that is experiencing a gout flare until after the flare has resolved. An overview of the study design and timeline is given in . The study opened recruitment in June 2019 and is ongoing.
Measurement Of Serum Uric Acid
Archived plasma samples were thawed, warmed to 25°C, and aliquots combined with assay buffer, uric acid probe, and enzymatic reaction mix as part of a Uric Acid Assay kit and as directed by the manufacturer . Each master reaction mix was added to the wells of a 96-well microplate and incubated for 30 min at 37°C in the dark. Samples were then analyzed at 570 nm and quantified, with purified uric acid serving as an external standard. The CV was < 6.6%.
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Best Overall: Carlyle Tart Cherry Extract Capsules
- Amount: 200 capsules
- ServingDose: 2 capsules daily
- Vegan: No
Its no secret that some options on the market may contain a higher concentration of tart cherry than others, which is why we wanted to ensure that the tart cherry concentration wont be above the maximal permitted. Thats what we found in the best overall option made by Carlyle.
One serving size consists of 2 capsules, which you can take during the day. Its recommended that you take them after lunch for a quicker release and more comfortable digestion. The two capsules contain 2,400mg of Tart Cherry which is the maximal permitted dose and wont come with inconvenient side effects.
Carlyle has always been known for making only the best products, so you dont have to worry about taking up unhealthy ingredients. As we tested and reviewed this option, we found that its hypoallergenic. Its GMO and gluten-free. Whats more, it doesnt contain fish oils, dairy, eggs, or soy. Youll be disappointed to learn that it is not completely vegan as it contains gelatin-made capsules.
These capsules will help you with falling asleep. You will feel more alleviated and rid of muscular and nerve pain when going to bed. Additionally, youll feel calmer and more relaxed, which is the key contributor to a healthy sleep cycle. Even athletes can have benefited from it, especially when it comes to recovery from injuries.
How Antioxidants May Benefit Brain Health
Antioxidants donate an electron to make these radicals a bit more stableor enough so that they wont damage our cells.
And lucky for us, tart cherries are rich in antioxidants like flavonoids and phenolic-compounds, but more specifically anthocyanins and hydroxycinnamic acids that help to protect neuronal cells from cell-damaging oxidative stress .
Human studies on the effects of tart cherry and cognitive function are sparse, but one animal study provides some promising evidence.
This study found that tart cherry supplementation improved spatial learning and working memory, as well as reduced inflammation and promoted autophagy autophagy is like the cellular house clean-up, getting rid of or recycling dead, worn out, or malfunctioning cells .
In doing do, you help to get rid of toxins from your brain that may impede on brain health.
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How Does Cherry Juice Treat Gout
Cherry juice treats gout flare-ups by reducing the level of uric acid in the body. Since uric acid buildup is what causes gout, it only goes to reason that cherry juice could prevent or treat gout flare-ups.
A 2011 study noted that 100 percent tart cherry juice significantly reduced the level of serum uric acid levels in participants who drank 8 ounces of the juice every day for four weeks.
Its not only cherry juice that could lower uric acid levels cherry juice concentrate can also be beneficial for those with gout.
A 2012 pilot study found that consuming cherry juice concentrate lowered the levels of uric acid in the body. One portion of the study demonstrated that cherry extract was more effective than pomegranate concentrate at lowering uric acid levels.
A retrospective portion of the study found that when consumed for a four-month period or longer, cherry juice concentrate reduced gout flare-ups significantly.
An online survey directed at people with gout also suggested cherry intake can improve symptoms. Of the survey respondents, 43 percent said that they used cherry extract or juice to treat their gout symptoms. The survey found that those who used cherry supplements reported significantly fewer flare-ups.
Of course, this study is limited because it relies on the subjects to report their own symptoms. Even so, the results are promising.
Icipants Study Design And Intervention
This study was a 12-wk 2 × 2 crossover, randomized, placebo-controlled dietary intervention in overweight and obese participants . Individuals were recruited from the Phoenix, AZ, metropolitan area through the use of handbills, word-of-mouth notification, and poster displays as reviewed and approved by the Institutional Review Board at Arizona State University. Respondents were screened by telephone and onsite interviews at the metabolic kitchen at the Polytechnic campus at Arizona State University to assess general health height and weight were measured to determine BMI. Participants were aged 18 y, not pregnant, not diabetic, with no unresolved infections or diseases , and nonsmokers. Histories of medication and dietary supplement use were collected and those taking anti-inflammatory or lipid-lowering medications were excluded. This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board at Arizona State University and informed consent was obtained from each respondent prior to entering the study. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT03636529.
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Tart Cherry Extract Capsules With Celery Seed
According to the manufacturer Zhou Nutrition this is an advanced 2-in-1 cleanse for uric acid.
Polyphenols in tart cherries are reckoned to contain more antioxidants than almost any other food which is why Zhou Nutrition refers to their product as an antioxidant powerhouse.
Manufactured in the USA, each bottle contains 60 veggie capsules. Its non GMO and comes with a 100% Money-Back Guarantee.
Each capsule contains:
- 1000 mg tart cherry extract
- 240 mg celery seed
The cherry extract and celery seeds, working together, help to flush excess uric acid out of the body and, at the same time, maintain uric acid at healthy levels.
Tart Cherry Increases Antioxidant Capacity
The exact mechanisms underlying the health benefits of tart cherry use remain unknown. However, they seem to involve the potent antioxidant effects of this fruit. A 2019 report in Applied Physiology, Nutrition and Metabolism showed these effects in healthy men.
These researchers used a high-fat meal to trigger antioxidant defenses in the men. Participants received tart cherries during the meal. Compared to a placebo, eating the cherries increased the antioxidant capacity of the subjects. The cherries also lowered their triglycerides.
You can take advantage of these impressive antioxidant effects with a tart cherry supplement. A 2016 paper in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition shows you how. In this study, subjects took 480 milligrams of powdered tart cherry each day during the week before a half-marathon race. After the race, they had a better balance of free radical production and free radical elimination.
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What Are The Potential Side Effects
Unless youre allergic to cherries, its unlikely that youll have an adverse reaction. However, its important to eat everything in moderation and cherries are no exception. Its possible to have diarrhea if you drink too much cherry juice or eat too many cherries.
How much is too much cherry juice? Thats hard to say, as it depends on your own digestive system. As mentioned, one glass a day should be enough to treat gout without producing any side effects. If you have any adverse reactions, make a note of them and speak to a healthcare provider about it.
If you want to add more cherries into your diet, you can do so in a number of different ways. You can:
- drink tart cherry juice
- add cherries to yogurt or fruit salad
- blend cherries or cherry juice up in a smoothie