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Some people manage to get their uric acid levels under control by changing their diet. But many people will need to take medication. Most of the uric acid in your body is made inside your body, so changing your diet only has a limited effect. Treatment with medication is considered if the gout attacks are frequent or if you have complications like kidney stones or tophi.
Andrés M, Sivera F, Falzon L, Buchbinder R, Carmona L. Dietary supplements for chronic gout. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2014 : CD010156.
Qaseem A, Harris RP, Forciea MA. Management of Acute and Recurrent Gout: A Clinical Practice Guideline From the American College of Physicians. Ann Intern Med 2017 166: 58-68.
Roddy E, Mallen CD, Doherty M. Gout. BMJ 2013 347: f5648.
Shekelle PG, FitzGerald J, Newberry SJ, Motala A, O’Hanlon CE, Okunogbe A et al. Management of Gout. March 2016. .
IQWiG health information is written with the aim of helping people understand the advantages and disadvantages of the main treatment options and health care services.
Because IQWiG is a German institute, some of the information provided here is specific to the German health care system. The suitability of any of the described options in an individual case can be determined by talking to a doctor. informedhealth.org can provide support for talks with doctors and other medical professionals, but cannot replace them. We do not offer individual consultations.
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Summary And Quick Facts For Gout And Hyperuricemia
- Gout is one of the oldest known and most common forms of arthritis it is a crystal deposition disease in which crystals of monosodium urate form in joints and other tissues.
- This protocol provides information concerning risk factors for gout as well as diseases associated with gout and elevated uric acid. It also describes emerging therapeutics, lifestyle and dietary changes, and integrative interventions.
- Treatments for acute gout attacks typically manage pain and inflammation, and include NSAIDS, corticosteroids and colchicine. Lifestyle can also have a significant influence on the development of hyperuricemia and gout.
Gout is a form of arthritis in which excess uric acid forms crystals in joints and other tissues causing painful inflammation. Vitamin C, cherries, and other integrative interventions have been shown to decrease uric acid levels and the frequency of gout attacks.
An Overview Of Dietary Approaches To Manage And Prevent Gout
The main principles of a gout diet are usually the same as those of any healthy, balanced diet.
They include:
- If youre overweight, reduce the number of calories you consume.
- Choose unrefined carbohydrates like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
- Limit your intake of sugar-sweetened beverages and foods.
- Limit your intake of organ meats .
- Cut back on saturated fats.
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Hyperuricemia And The Development Of Gout
Uric acid is a metabolic “waste product” with poor solubility in body fluids, yet its potential role as a primary antioxidant in body fluids suggests it should be kept at sufficient levels in the blood. Clearly, these diametric properties of uric acid define a range for normal blood uric acid levels. Commonly, the upper limit of this range is taken as 8.6 mg/dL in men and 7.1 mg/dL in women, .15-17 Uric acid levels above this limit are considered as hyperuricemia.
Hyperuricemia is a primary risk factor for the development of gout, although it is likely that many hyperuricemic individuals will not develop symptoms.7 While the risk of a gout attack increases with blood uric acid, the annual occurrence of inflammatory gout is fairly low persons with blood uric acid levels between 7 and 8.9 mg/dL have a 0.5â3% change of developing the disease, which rises to 4.5% at levels over 9 mg/dL.18
Hyperuricemia without symptoms is also a risk factor for other diseases. Although patients with asymptomatic hyperuricemia may never experience the symptoms of a gout attack, ultrasound studies have revealed that up to one-third may have urate deposits and evidence of inflammation in their joints and surrounding soft tissues.19
Gout is commonly divided into distinct “phases” of recurrent attacks of acute gout interspersed with symptom free periods, with cumulative crystal deposition gradually contributing to a chronic condition .
Vitamin C May Help Prevent Gout
Study Shows Vitamin C From Food or Supplements May Reduce the Risk of Gout
March 9, 2009 — Boosting vitamin C intake may be a simple way to help prevent one of the most common forms of arthritis.
A new study shows the vitamin better known for fighting colds may also prevent gout.
Researchers found men who had the highest vitamin C intake from supplements and food were up to 45% less likely to develop the painful condition than those who had the lowest.
Vitamin C is found naturally in citrus fruit, broccoli, and other fruits and vegetables it is often taken in supplement form.
Researcher Hyon K. Choi, MD, formerly of the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, and now of the Boston University School of Medicine, and colleagues say other studies have suggested that vitamin C appears to prevent gout by reducing levels of uric acid in the blood. Buildup of uric acid can lead to the formation of crystals, which can deposit in the body, leading to the pain, inflammation, and swelling associated with gout.
In the study, published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, researchers analyzed the relationship between vitamin C intake and gout among 46,994 healthy men from 1986 to 2006. The men answered questionnaires detailing vitamin C intake through diet and/or vitamin C supplements every four years.
During the study period, 1,317 new cases of gout were diagnosed among the participants.
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Nutrigout Uric Acid Support Formula
Due to its all-natural formula, NutriGout has taken the first place in our list of supplements for gout. It contains 3 main key ingredients that are essential for reducing gout deposits.
Apart from that, it also contains dandelion extract, bromelain from pineapple, and milk thistle extract. As all these ingredients are blended together, this supplement has very strong anti-inflammatory properties and helps to support kidney as well as liver functions. So, it is very helpful in maintaining healthy uric levels and keep the gout at bay.
As per the manufacturer, it is recommended to take 1 tablet 3 times a day after meals. Regular intake of this supplement helps to prevent gout deposits and swollen joints.
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Diagnosis And Conventional Medical Treatments
Blood tests can determine whether a patient is hyperuricemic , but the most definitive feature in the diagnosis of gout is the identification of monosodium urate crystals in joint fluid or aspirates of tophi. Once gout has been diagnosed, conventional medical treatments include:
- Drugs for acute attacks
- Drugs to reduce hyperuricemia
Read Also: What Does Gout Look Like In The Elbow
What Vitamins Are Good For Gout
According to researchers, vitamin C is highly effective in treating a condition like gout.
A daily intake of vitamin C will prevent gout and different types of arthritis. This vitamin also has the potential to fight against colds.
Some scientific studies have revealed that men who regularly consume vitamin C supplements have a lower chance of developing gout and other painful conditions. This vitamin works for gout by reducing the uric acid level in your blood.
The uric acid buildups can result in crystal formation in your joints. In due course, you have inflammation, swelling, and pain, and these symptoms indicate a gout attack in your joint.
You must take more than 500 mg of vitamin C every day to find the result.
Dieting And Weight Loss To Prevent Gout
Losing weight may help lower your uric acid levels and reduce your risk of future gout attacks. A 2017 review of studies in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases suggested that a weight loss of about eight pounds or more led to long-term reductions in uric acid levels and gout attacks in overweight or obese people.
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Now Its Your Turn To Understand What Vitamins To Take To Prevent Gout
Theres now thousands of us who no more undergo gout because we tackled it at its result in. Rather than just tinkering with the symptoms.
Im one of them.
Remember, I got gout for exactly the same causes it really is experienced by at this point you.
An bad gut microbiome supposed that bacteria which should have been removing a 3rd of my bodys uric acid easily wasnt.
That bacteria acquired diminished to the point that my kidneys were trying to deal with the acid on their own.
And they couldnt cope.
Nor can yours.
It wasnt that we was suddenly providing too much uric acid. Its that my gut had been no longer in a position to support my kidneys take it off from my body.
Along with the change from gout to no gout almost thought as promised.
You can possibly imagine it yourself.. what it would be like to simply never have any gout ever again.
Take my word for it, its wonderful!
No flare-ups, no pain, no being laid-up in bed for days waiting for the pain to subside.
No thinking if some future occasion will be smudged because Im laid up in agony with another attack.
Just as pleasing is the fact that Ive also drastically lowered my dangers of enduring diabetes, kidney failure, heart disease and some malignancies.
Shellys program lays it all out for us. No special knowledge is required. I found it easy.
Cherry Juice For Gout Management
Cherries and cherry juice are a popular folk remedy for gout, but the scientific evidence to support their supposed benefits is still coming in.
Nonetheless, theres reason to believe that cherries may help fight gout. They contain chemical compounds called anthocyanins, which have been shown to help reduce inflammation.
Cherries may also have a beneficial effect on uric acid levels.
One large study of people with recurrent gout found that eating cherries was associated with a lower risk of gout attacks, especially when cherry consumption was combined with taking a common uric acidlowering drug.
Despite these findings, experts say that more research is needed before any definitive recommendations can be made about cherries or cherry juice for gout.
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How To Prevent Gout
Some things that increase the risk of gout are out of your control your age, gender and family history for example.
However, your body weight and diet are also important factors.
The rise in gout in recent years is linked to our widening waistlines.
Being overweight, eating fatty foods and consuming too much alcohol are established triggers of flares of gout.
And although losing weightand avoiding certain foods may not be the magic answer to how to get rid of gout, it may help to reduce the likelihood of a future attack.
Vitamin C May Reduce Risk Of Gout
A new study has linked higher vitamin C intake with a lower risk of gout. Vitamin C supplements, the results imply, may help to prevent gout.
Nearly 3 million adults nationwide are estimated to have gout. The condition develops when excess uric acid in the blood begins to form crystals. These crystals then accumulate in joints to cause swelling and pain. Gout often first affects the joints of the big toe, but many other joints can also be involved. Left untreated over time, gout can permanently damage affected joints.
Recent studies have found that higher vitamin C intake reduces uric acid levels in blood. Whether this ultimately affects the risk of gout, however, has been unknown. A research team led by Dr. Hyon K. Choi of the University of British Columbia set out to examine the relationship between vitamin C intake and gout. Their work was supported by grants from several NIH institutes and TAP Pharmaceuticals.
The researchers studied data gathered between 1986 and 2006 by the ongoing Health Professionals Follow-up Study. The study asked male health professionals to fill out a dietary questionnaire every 4 years. From these, the researchers calculated the mens vitamin C intake, adding in vitamin C from supplements. Every 2 years, the men also recorded whether they had received a doctors diagnosis of gout. The researchers were thus able to compare vitamin C intake with the incidence of gout in almost 47,000 men who didnt have gout when the study began.
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Dietary Approaches To Control Hyperuricemia And Reduce Gout Risk
Lifestyle can have a significant influence on the development of hyperuricemia and gout. Accumulated data from several large epidemiological studies suggest several possible modifications for significant reductions in gout risk56:
Exercise daily and reduce weight. Increased adiposity is associated with increased uric acid levels and gout risk.
Limit red meat intake. Beef, pork, and lamb are high-purine foods that can significantly increase gout risk.
Adjust fish intake to individual needs. Carefully balance the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids with the increased gout risk or consider taking an omega-3 supplement. High quality fish oil supplements are highly purified and the purine content in these oils is either undetectable, or present in trace amounts that pose no risk of raising gout levels.
Drink skim milk or consume other low-fat dairy products. Dairy consumption is inversely associated with gout risk.
Consume vegetable protein, nuts, and legumes. Nuts and legumes are good sources of non-uricemic protein legumes and vegetables are not associated with gout risk.
Reduce alcohol intake. Moderate alcohol consumption has cardiovascular benefits, but beer and spirits significantly increase gout risk. Red wine, on the other hand, appears not to increase gout risk.
What Are The Best Vitamins For Gout
Most medical experts agree that theres no easy fix to treat or prevent gout, but eating a diet rich in vitamin C and the B-family of vitamins, particularly B6 and B12, can help reduce inflammation and flare-ups. Many care providers recommend a daily multivitamin supplement that contains high doses of these and other vitamins and minerals. Certain other supplements, particularly quercetin and calcium, are widely believed to be useful for gout patients, too, and ingesting regular doses of fish oil, which is high in omega-3 fatty acids, can also help. In general, though, there is no cure-all. Gout patients are usually advised to drink a lot of water, get plenty of exercise, and eat a healthy, balanced diet high in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Vitamin and mineral supplements can help, but usually work best as part of a more rigorous lifestyle plan.
Gout Basics
Vitamin C
B-Family Vitamins
Mineral Supplements
Fish Oil
Other Prevention Tips
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What Can I Do On My Own To Prevent Gout Attacks
Gout is caused by high uric acid levels. If theres too much uric acid in our bodies, it can build up in joints and cause an acute gout attack. Some people manage to keep their levels of uric acid down by eating less meat, fish and seafood and drinking less alcohol.
Uric acid is released when substances called purines are broken down. Purines are mainly produced inside the body, but they are also found in many different types of foods that we eat. Fish, meat and seafood are especially rich in purines. People with gout are sometimes advised to stick to a strict low-purine diet. But its not clear exactly how effective that kind of diet is.
Is Vitamin C Effective In The Treatment Of Gout
Vitamin C, with its uricosuric effect, may reduce the serum concentration of uric acid. In one study, 500 mg/day for 2 months reduced uric acid by a mean of 0.5 mg/dL in patients without gout. However, gout patients appear to be less responsive to such a low dose of ascorbate. Vitamin C treatment should be avoided in patients with nephrolithiasis, urate nephropathy, or cystinuria.
Kobylecki et al reported that each 10 µmol/L higher plasma vitamin C level was associated with a 2.3 µmol/L lower plasma urate level. However, carriage of the SLC23A1 genetic variant, which causes lifelong high plasma vitamin C levels, was not associated with plasma urate levels or with risk of hyperuricemia.
Read Also: What Uric Acid Level Indicates Gout
Coffee And Parkinsons Disease
Various studies have shown that caffeine, which is present in coffee and many other beverages, may help protect against Parkinsons disease.
One team concluded that men who drink over four cups of coffee per day might have a fivefold lower risk of Parkinsons than those who do not.
In addition, the caffeine in coffee may help control movement in people with Parkinsons, according to one 2012 study.
The findings of a 2017 meta-analysis suggested a link between coffee consumption and a lower risk of Parkinsons disease, even among people who smoke. This team also found that people who drink coffee may be less likely to experience depression and cognitive conditions such as Alzheimers.
There was to prove that drinking decaffeinated coffee would help prevent Parkinsons disease, however.
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There are only a few studies looking into the influence of alcohol on gout. They suggest that people with gout are more likely to have an attack if they have had more than one or two alcoholic drinks in the last 24 hours. One alcoholic drink is equivalent to a small bottle of beer , a small glass of wine or a double schnapps .
There are various reasons why alcohol can trigger gout attacks. On the one hand, it increases uric acid production and reduces the amount of uric acid expelled by the kidneys. On the other, the diuretic effect of alcohol can increase the risk of gout. Uric acid crystals form more readily in joints if the surrounding tissue doesnt contain enough fluid. Beer in particular contains a relatively high amount of purines too, which could also be a factor.
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