Gout Diet Media

Tomatoes And Gout Investigation

Interesting investigation showing how a tomato-based soup can lower uric acid. This is a good addition to your diet if you have gout.

Title:

Mediterranean vegetable soup consumption increases plasma vitamin C and decreases F2-isoprostanes, prostaglandin E2 and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 in healthy humans.

Authors:

Sánchez-Moreno C, Cano MP, de Ancos B, Plaza L, Olmedilla B, Granado F, Martín A.

Published:

J Nutr Biochem. 2006 Mar;17(3):183-9. Epub 2005 Aug 15.

Iron, Xanthine Oxidase, & Uric Acid

Observation, and possible explanations for increase in xanthine oxidase followed by uric acid caused by excess iron in the blood. Though only demonstrated in rats, not humans, this investigation gives valuable insight into the dangers of excess iron for gout.

Rather than preventing generation of [uric acid,] a remarkably beneficial iron chelator and antioxidant with allopurinol or increasing its urinary excretion with probenecid, perhaps a more rational treatment for hyperuricemia might be not only the avoidance of highly absorbable iron in red meat, but also regular voluntary donation of blood to decrease the relatively elevated body iron stores of men and postmenopausal women, thereby balancing decreased uric acid production with antioxidant needs.

Title:

Iron regulates xanthine oxidase activity in the lung.

Authors:

Andrew J Ghio, Thomas P Kennedy, Jacqueline Stonehuerner, Jacqueline D Carter, Kelly A Skinner, Dale A Parks, John R Hoidal.

Published:

AJP – Lung Physiol September 2002 vol 283 no 3 L563-L572.

Data on the relationship between diet and the risk for gout are primarily derived from the recent Health Professionals Follow-Up Study (27, 28, 31). Implications of these findings in the management of hyperuricemia or gout are generally consistent with the new Healthy Eating Pyramid (32), except for fish intake. The use of plant-derived ?-3 fatty acids or supplements of eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid in place of fish consumption could be considered to provide patients the benefit of these fatty acids without increasing the risk for gout. Use of -3 fatty acids may have anti-inflammatory effect against gouty flares. Vitamin C intake exerts a uricosuric effect. (Adapted with permission from reference 32: Willett WC, Stampfer MJ. Rebuilding the food pyramid. Sci Am. 2003;288:64-71.) Red arrows denote an increased risk for gout, solid green arrows denote a decreased risk, and yellow arrows denote no influence on risk. Broken green arrows denote potential effect but without prospective evidence for the outcome of gout.

Table of dietary recommendations for gout management. Taken from Gout: Diagnosis and Management of Gouty Arthritis and Hyperuricemia, this diet and gout list shows how overall gout diet is much more important than individual food items.

I have included other principles in my Gout Diet Section, as their are other important food factors. Also, beverages, exercise, and other lifestyle issues must be considered. The best approach is to assess your current diet, then slowly adjust that diet, decreasing bad influences, and increasing good ones. That way, you are more likely to stick to gout diet improvements.

A chart comparing the 10% increase in uric acid after drinking soy milk, with the 10% decrease after drinking skim milk.

Please remember that no single individual food is important. You (or your nutritionist) should check the Gout Diet Section to fully understand the part that food and drink play in the treatment of gout)

40 30 30 Gout Diet

Ann Rheum Dis. 2000 Jul;59(7):539-43.

Beneficial effects of weight loss associated with moderate calorie/carbohydrate restriction, and increased proportional intake of protein and unsaturated fat on serum urate and lipoprotein levels in gout: a pilot study.

Dessein PH, Shipton EA, Stanwix AE, Joffe BI, Ramokgadi J.

This report shows useful, though limited, blood uric acid reduction on a calorie controlled diet where nutrition is balanced to a 40:30:30 carbohydrate:protein:fats ratio.

To put this information in context, please see the Gout Diet Section, especially the pages on calories as gout foods to avoid.

Purine Dairy Protein Diet & Gout

Purine-Rich Foods, Dairy and Protein Intake,
and the Risk of Gout in Men. March 2004, Hyon K. Choi et al. Statistical study showing a link between increased meat and fish intake and increased risk of gout. Increased dairy is associated with lower risk of gout, and high purine vegetables have no association with gout.