Gout is an inflammatory arthritis that results from uric acid deposits in the joints. Risk factors for gout include obesity, a low-fat diet, fasting, hypertension and use of diuretics. Primarily, gout is treated with medication that decreases uric acid. A low-purine diet may help to decrease metabolic stress. Purines are found in certain amino acids, which make up proteins. The amino acids containing purine are adenine and guanine, which metabolize into uric acid. While all complete proteins contain these amino acids, they are also found in some incomplete proteins.
Significance
Gout is a disorder of purine metabolism. It is occasionally suggested that a low-purine diet be followed in cases of gout. Decreasing consumption of purines will decrease metabolic stress in the body, but not the amount of uric acid deposited in the joints. The majority of uric acid deposits are a result of cellular turnover, and not from dietary intakes.
Foods to Eat
Foods with no purine include carbonated beverages, cereals and grains, chocolate, coffee, condiments, cornbread, fats, gelatin, nuts, oils, pickles, popcorn, pudding, relish, rice and white sauces. Cheese, milk, cream, custard, eggs, fruits and most vegetable also contain no purine.
Foods to Avoid
Foods with high purine contents include anchovies, bouillon broths, herring, mackerel, meat extracts, mincemeat, mussels, sardines, scallops, sweetbreads and yeast supplements. Foods with moderate purine content include meat, fish, poultry, shellfish, asparagus, dried beans, lentils, mushrooms, dried peas and spinach.
Method
Purines should be restricted to 150 to 200 mg per day. Food with high purine content should be eliminated from the diet. Foods with moderate purine content should be limited to 1 serving per day. Foods with no purine may be eaten liberally. In general, it is safe to eat grains, fruit and fats, but these foods barely contain protein. Eating moderate amounts (4 to 5 oz./day) of low-fat protein sources is recommended
Examples
Some sample meals and snacks to eat as part of a low-purine diet include eggs with toast and milk, pancakes or French toast, trail mix of nuts and dried fruit, vegetable lasagna with limited meat, macaroni and cheese, casserole with limited meat, cooked or raw vegetables, or pasta alfredo.
References
- Krause's Food and Nutrition Therapy; L. Kathleen Mahan; 2008
- Archives of Internal Medicine; Obesity and weight change, hypertension, diuretic use, and risk of gout in men, HK Choi; 2005.
- American Dietetic Association Journal; Gout: Is a Purine-Diet Still Recommended; Susan Hayman; August, 2009.
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