Gout is a type of arthritis that can cause sudden and severe pain in various joints, but most commonly affects the joints in the big toe. Good nutrition is important in both the treatment and prevention of gout attacks. While vitamin D is not a standard remedy for gout, this nutrient plays an important role in the overall health of your bones.
Gout
Men are most likely to experience gout attacks, although women past the age of menopause are also at an increased risk. According to the Mayo Clinic, classic symptoms of gout include inflammation and redness around the affected joint and sudden, severe pain, often occurring in the middle of the night. Although it most commonly occurs in the large joint at the base of the big toe, gout may also affect joints in ankles, wrists, hands, feet and knees. The most intense pain normally occurs within the first 12 to 24 hours of the initial flare-up.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that your body produces through exposure to sunlight. Certain foods also contain varying amounts of vitamin D. This vitamin helps your body absorb calcium and plays a role in maintaining the correct balance of phosphorus and calcium in your blood. According to "Arthritis Today," a study conducted by the Tufts New England Medical Center found that vitamin D supplements may be beneficial in the treatment of arthritis. Although there is no firm correlation between vitamin D supplementation and gout, an adequate amount of this nutrient is important to your overall health. However, too much vitamin D may increase your risk of developing calcium deposits in your soft tissues, including your lungs and heart.
Recommendations
About 10 to 15 minutes of sunlight exposure three times each week can help you meet your vitamin D requirements, reports the University of Maryland Medical Center. The standard recommendations for vitamin D supplementation vary depending on age. Males and females between the ages of 14 and 50 years of age require 5 mcg per day, while adults over the age of 70 need 15 mcg per day.
Considerations
Although vitamin D may not play an obvious role in gout, other vitamins and substances can affect this condition. Drugs.com warns that too much vitamin A may increase your risk of gout. Drinking excess amounts of alcohol, taking thiazide diuretics, having diabetes or hypertension, as well as having a family history of gout, can increase your chances of experiencing an attack of gout. Drinking between 8 and 16 cups of fluid daily, avoiding alcohol, eating moderate amounts of low-fat protein and limiting your intake of fish and poultry can help minimize your risk of painful gout flare-ups.
