IN THE NEWS |
CHERRIES DECREASE RISK OF GOUT ATTACKS In a study of 633 patients with gout cherry consumption over a 2-day period was associated with a 35% lower risk of gout attacks compared to no intake. A similar inverse association was seen with cherry extract. When combined with allopurinol use, the risk of gout attacks decreased to 75%. (Abstract) |
MILK SUPPLEMENTS MIGHT PREVENT GOUT FLARES A New Zeland clinical trial results suggest the skim milk powder (SMP) enriched with 2 dairy fractions may prevent gout flares. Previous studies have identified two dairy fractions: glycomacropeptide (GMP) and G600 milk fat extract (G600), with anti-inflammatory effects in acute gout models. In a 3-month randomized trial evaluating milk products for the prevention of gout flares, results showed a significant reduction in gout flares in the SMP/GMP/G600 group. Following treatment, greater improvements were noted in pain and excretion of uric acid, with improvement in tender joint count. Results suggest SMP enriched with GMP and G600 may reduce the frequency of gout flares. |
VITAMIN C INTAKE AND THE LOWER RISK OF GOUT IN MEN In a 20-year study of nearly 47,000 men, daily supplements of vitamin C found in sprouts, peppers, and oranges appeared to decrease the risk for gout. A study concludes higher vitamin C intake is independently associated with a lower risk of gout. Supplemental vitamin C may be beneficial in the prevention of gout. The benefit appears to be dose-dependent. Compared to men who did not take vitamin C supplements, those who took 1000 mg to 1,499 mg daily had a 34% lower risk of gout; those who took 1,500 mg daily had a 45% lower risk. Usually 1000 mg a day or less is unlikely to cause harm. Diarrhea has been reported with doses doses greater than 1000 mg a day. |
COFFEE AND LOWER RISK OF GOUT Research in Canada sorting through data on more than 14,000 men and women in a 6-year survey found that coffee drinking of four or more cups a day lowered the risk of gout by 40-60%. Coffee-and, to a lesser extent, decaffeinated coffee- significantly lowered the amount of uric acid in the blood. Tea and other caffeinated drinks had little effect on uric acid, suggesting some other constituent in coffee, like the antioxidant chlorogenic acid, may be responsible for the uric acid lowering. |
MEAT AND SEAFOOD RAISE RISK OF GOUT; DAIRY FOODS LOWER IT In contrast, increasing the intake of dairy foods, especially low-fat fairy foods (skim milk and low-fat yogurt), decreased the risk of gout. These risks are independent of other risk factors
for gout: hypertension, high BMI, alcohol use, diuretic use and chronic
renal disease. |
ALCOHOL AND GOUT |
ALLOPURINOL USE IN GOUT COULD REDUCE RISK FOR HEART ATTACKS Study suggests allopurinol use in the treatment of gout may have a cardioprotective effect, i.e., a reduced risk for myocardial infarction. No decreased risk of MI was seen with colchicene use. ( Ann Rheum Dis 2015;74:836-842 doi:10.1136/annrheumdis-2012-202972) |
PHYTOTHERAPY | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
A list of herbal medicinal plants with reported folkloric use for gout | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Last update: October 6, 2012 |
IMAGE SOURCE: The Gout by James Gillray. Published May 14th 1799. / File:The gout james gillray.jpg/ James Gillray / May 14, 1799 / Public Domain / Wikipedia |
Additional
Sources and Suggested Readings (1) Asymptomatic Hyperuricemia: To Treat or Not to Treat / CLEVELAND CLINIC JOURNAL OF MEDICINE. AUG 2002 (2) Intricacies in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Gout / Patient Care . July 15, 2001 (3) Donna Tinnerello MS,RD,CDN. August 1999 (4) MEAT AND SEAFOOD RAISE RISK OF GOUT; DAIRY FOODS LOWER IT / Internal Medicine News. June 1, 2004. Mary Ann Moon (5) Alcohol and Gout / Lancet 363[9417]:1277-81,2004 (6) Natural Treatment of Gout / Phytotherapy / Herbal Teas / Botanical OnLine (7) Arthritis / Gout / Holistic OnLine (8) Effects of skim milk powder enriched with glycomacropeptide and G600 milk fat extract on frequency of gout flares: a proof-of-concept randomised controlled trial / Nicola Dalbeth, Ruth Ames, Greg D Gamble, Anne Horne, Sumwai Wong, Barbara Kuhn-Sherlock, Alastair MacGibbon, Fiona M McQueen, Ian R Reid, Kate Palmano / Ann Rheum Dis doi:10.1136/annrheumdis-2011-200156 (9) Vitamin C Intake and the Risk of Gout in Men / A Prospective Study / Hyon K. Choi, MD, DrPH; Xiang Gao, MD, PhD; Gary Curhan, MD, ScD / Arch Intern Med. 2009;169(5):502-507. (10) Can Coffee Prevent Gout? / Johns Hopkins Health Alert (11) Cherry consumption and the risk of recurrent gout attacks / Yuqing Zhang, Tuhina Neogi, Clara Chen, Christine Chaisson, David Hunter, Hyon K. Choi / DOI: 10.1002/art.34677 |