A low purine diet has been prescribed by physicians as treatment for gout because it was believed that a low purine intake would result in decreased uric acid formation in your body. Gout is the result of a defect in the metabolism of uric acid. This metabolic defect results in the formation of urate crystals in your joints. Gout occurs as a painful inflammation in your toe or foot. Simple compounds from the metabolism of dietary protein, fat and carbohydrate, all contribute to uric acid production, according to "The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition." Following a strict low purine diet alone, will not significantly reduce your chances of developing gout, or prevent a flare-up.
Factors Contributing to Hyperuricemia
Controlling your weight with a diet that doesn't restrict carbohydrates, has about as much potential to lower your urate levels as following a highly restrictive low purine diet, reports PubMed. There is a strong link between the development of gout and the developement of metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia and hypertension. Overeating and being overweight seems to be the major culprit.
Considerations
Since protein, fat and carbohydrate all contain the compounds capable of producing purines, it is best for you not to overeat. During an attack of gout, you may benefit from restricting all meat, fish and poultry. For a maintainence diet, it may be better for you to allow very small servings of meat, fish and poultry, three to five times per week, rather than eliminating them entirely.
Warning
There are certain foods you should avoid at all times. Anchovies, sardines, meat soups, gravies, meat extracts, organ meats such as liver, kidney, sweetbreads and brains are all extremely high in purines.
Effects
High protein, low carbohydrate diets for weight loss may worsen your gout as reported in American College of Rheumatology. Alcohol and beer in particular, also aggravates gout. If you are pre-disposed to developing gout, modifying your diet and lifestyle may prevent it. You may be able to best control gout by following healthy dietary recommendations for weight control and using prescribed medication.
Effects of Dairy and Vegetables
Higher levels of dairy products such as frequent low fat yogurt intake or drinking two or more glasses of skim milk per day may reduce your risk of gout, according to a study in The New England Journal of Medicine. Moderate intake of purine-rich vegetables such as spinach, asparagus or cauliflower as well as dry beans, peas and lentils does not seem to increase your gout risk.
References
- The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition: Dietotherapy, The Low Purine Diet
- Pub Med.gov: Dietary Factors and hyperuricemia
- American College of Rheumatology, Hotline: Health Professionals Follow-up Study on Gout: What Do We Now Tell Patients About Diet and Alcohol?
- The New England Journal of Medicine: Purine-Rich Foods, Dairy and Protein Intake,and the Risk of Gout in Men
