According to the American College of Rheumatology, over 3 million people are diagnosed with gout each year. Gout is related to several lifestyle factors, including obesity, hypertension, hyperlipidemia and diabetes. Gout is also associated with genetic factors, and the condition tends to run in some families. Men are more likely to have the condition. Avoiding certain foods can help prevent gout flares, however. In particular, foods containing high levels of purines can cause symptoms and pain associated with gout.
Purines
According to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, purines are a normal part of all human tissues and are found in many foods. The textbook "Medical Biochemistry" states that nucleic acids are made of sugar, phosphate, and nitrogenous bases. Purines are one type of nitrogenous base found in nucleic acids. In DNA and RNA, which are both nucleic acids, the major purines are guanine and adenine. Purines are found in many foods, including meat, shellfish, and sweetbreads, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. When a person consumes these foods, the body breaks down the purines, forming uric acid as an end product of purine metabolism.
Gout
The University of Maryland Medical Center states that gout is a type of arthritis that results from the build up of uric acid in the body, which then precipitates into crystals in the joints and causes inflammation. Gout causes intense painful joint swelling, and it occurs most often in the feet. Eating too many high-purine foods coupled with insufficient elimination of uric acid by the kidneys can lead the uric acid buildup, or hyperuricemia, according to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.
Foods to Avoid
According to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, high-purine foods include anchovies, asparagus, beef kidneys, brains, dried beans and peas, game meats, gravy, herring, liver, mackerel, mushrooms, sardines, scallops, and sweetbreads. These foods should be avoided by people with gout and those who have had gout symptoms in the past.
Diagnosis of Gout
Gout is more common in men but can affect women, especially after menopause, according to the Mayo Clinic website. The experts at the Mayo Clinic also state that symptoms of gout include joint tenderness, redness around joints, and sudden intense pain in the affected joints. It can cause night pain that interferes with sleeping habits.
Gout can be hard to diagnose and requires a doctor to confirm the presence of high levels of uric acid crystals in the joints. Pseudogout is another form of arthritis and its symptoms can mimic gout. The main difference between gout and pseudogout is the type of crystal that causes the inflammation in the joint. Pseudogout is caused by an accumulation of calcium phosphate crystals. According to the Mayo Clinic website, pseudogout is generally thought to be a product of aging. It is important to have a correct diagnosis to determine if purines are aggravating the condition.
Gout Treatment
Gout is treatable and can be controlled by medications. In addition to medications, lifestyle changes are needed, including drinking plenty of water, which helps remove uric acid from the body. Alcohol can raise the levels of uric acid in the blood and should be avoided by people with gout. Other lifestyle factors include getting plenty of exercise, maintaining a healthy body weight, and avoiding foods with high purine content.
References
- The American College of Rheumatology: Gout
- The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases: Gout
- "Medical Biochemistry"; Baynes J, Dominiczack MH; 2002
- The University of Maryland Medical Center: Gout
- MayoClinic.com: Gout
- MayoClinic.com: Pseudogout Causes
