Why does gout still occur even though I don't drink alcohol or eat seafood?

It's not just toothache that can be fatal, but also gout.

When gout attacks, the affected area becomes red, swollen, hot and painful, like a little devil gnawing at it, and it is extremely painful.

James Gillray, The Gout, c. 1799

According to the 2017 White Paper on the Status of Gout in China:

The number of patients with hyperuricemia in my country has reached 170 million, and the number of patients with gout has exceeded 80 million. Gout has become the second largest metabolic disease in my country after diabetes.

Although hyperuricemia ≠ gout, high uric acid levels in the blood are the cause of gout.

▲ Fructose - a potential accomplice of high uric acid Uric acid in the human body mainly comes from two sources:

① Foods rich in purine in the diet;

②Synthesized by the body itself.

We all know that gout patients should eat less purine-rich foods and drink less alcohol.

Because purine is metabolized into uric acid in the body, and alcohol reduces the excretion of uric acid.

However, there is one thing that many people overlook.

That's fructose!

Although it does not contain purine, it promotes the synthesis of uric acid in the body, thereby increasing the risk of gout.

The main sources of fructose in our daily diet are sugary drinks, sweets and fruits.

So, these can’t be eaten?

▲Sugar-containing drinks/desserts - It is recommended to eat less or no sugar. Most of the sugar added to the beverages on the market is mostly fructose syrup (fructose), and the sugar content is relatively high.

If you want to prevent hyperuricemia/gout, or even if you are already a gout patient, it is recommended that you eat less or no sugary drinks and desserts.

▲Fruits with low sugar content - can be eaten in moderation As for whether fruits can be eaten, current research generally believes that:

The relationship between dietary fructose (mainly fruit) intake and hyperuricemia and gout is not clear.

Moreover, fruits are rich in potassium and vitamin C, which can also reduce the risk of gout.

Therefore, considering all factors, gout patients can choose fruits with lower sugar content, such as watermelon, strawberry, grapefruit, etc.

Of course, reducing fructose intake is only one part of the story.

At the same time, you must maintain good eating and living habits to better avoid hyperuricemia and gout.

We recommend that you:

1. Drink more water to help excrete uric acid;

2 Eat fresh fruits and vegetables and take in adequate vitamins;

3. Quit drinking and eat less high-purine foods;

4. Engage in appropriate aerobic exercises such as cycling and short-distance swimming.

Otherwise, you may often hear: Oh, how come you have gout at such a young age...

References:

1.Choi HK, Curhan G. Soft drinks, fructose consumption, and the risk of gout in men: prospective cohort study［J］. BMJ, 2008, 336(7639): 309-312.

2. Li Hui, Su Yue, Mao Cuixiu, et al. Study on the effect of sugary soft drinks on young patients with gout［J］. Chinese General Practice, 2016, 19(18): 2174 - 2178.

3. Pang Shaojie, Qi Wentao, Song Ge, et al. Research progress on the relationship between dietary fructose and health[J]. Cereals, Oils and Food Science and Technology, 2020, Vol. 28(1):76-80.

4. Nie Xiuling (Department of Diabetes and Gout, Metabolic Disease Hospital, Tianjin Medical University, Institute of Endocrinology, Metabolic Disease Hospital, Tianjin Medical University, Key Laboratory of Hormones and Development, Ministry of Health, etc.). Long-term fructose intake and metabolic syndrome[J]. International Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism, 2018, Vol. 38(5):339-342.

5. Wang Xingan, Wu Guanzhong (Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University). Fructose metabolism and its effects on health[J]. Journal of Pharmacy and Clinical Research, 2011, (3):244-246.