Purine, a chemical component in DNA, breaks down in the body to form uric acid. If you produce or ingest too much purine, or if your kidneys cannot rid the body of uric acid quickly enough, uric acid levels build up and urate crystals form. When the sharp urate crystals deposit themselves in a joint, they cause the intense pain, inflammation and swelling of gout.
Foods
Some foods are naturally rich in purines, and eating them can raise the level of uric acid in the body. According to the Mayo Clinic, people with gout should avoid purine-rich foods such as organ meats (kidney and liver, for example), anchovies, herring, asparagus and mushrooms. The Merck Manuals Online Medical Library adds meat gravy and broth, mussels, sardines and sweetbreads to this list. While these purine-rich foods increase levels of uric acid and can trigger a gout flare-up, completely avoiding them does not guarantee that you will not suffer an attack.
Weight Gain
Gaining weight in a short period of time can cause a gout flare-up. The Merck Manual explains that the production of uric acid correlates with the surface area of the body, so when you gain weight, uric acid levels increase.
Alcohol
Drinking alcohol can bring on an attack of gout. Alcohol increases the breakdown of purines in the liver and increases the formation of lactic acid, which blocks the secretion of urate by the kidneys. This double whammy raises uric acid levels and heightens the likelihood of a gout flare-up. The Mayo Clinic advises gout sufferers against excessive use of alcohol, defined as more than two drinks per day for men and one drink per day for women. Beer drinkers are especially likely to suffer an attack of gout, says the Mayo Clinic.
Kidney Malfunction
Decreased excretion of uric acid from the kidneys is the most common cause of high blood levels of urate, says the Merck Manual. In some cases, the condition is inherited, and in other cases, it is due to diseases that slow the filtration rate of the kidney. Patients who take diuretics also have an increased risk of gout. Other causes of kidney damage, like lead exposure or use of the medication cyclosporin, can cause you to retain too much uric acid.
Medical Conditions
Medical conditions that cause you to increase production of uric acid can result in a gout flare-up. Blood disorders that increase the rate of cell turn-over, like lymphoma, leukemia or hemolytic anemia, cause massive release of purines, which can lead to gout. Conditions that cause cell proliferation, like psoriasis, can trigger a flare. Cancer treatments that kill large numbers of cells can also result in an episode of gout.
