Gout forms when uric acid, a byproduct of purine breakdown, builds up and inflames the joints. Purine occurs naturally in many foods, including meat, cheese and fish. Strawberries provide an excellent source of vitamin C, which minimizes the risk of gout, recent research indicates. Strawberries also contain high levels of magnesium, a mineral which may help reduce the symptoms of gout. That said, strawberries also contain oxalate, which can exacerbate gout in certain patients. Speak to your doctor or health care provider about strawberries for gout.
Vitamin C
One cup of raw strawberries provides 90 mg of vitamin C, equal to 149 per cent of the recommended daily allowance. According to two recent studies, vitamin C shows promise as both a treatment and a preventative for gout. A March 2009 study conducted by Canadian researchers and published in the journal "Archives of Internal Medicine" examined 46, 994 males with no history of gout over 20 years; the subjects with the lowest daily vitamin C intake manifested the highest rate of gout onset. Similarly, a June 2005 study conducted by Johns Hopkins University researchers and published in the journal "Arthritis and Rheumatism" found that vitamin C supplementation significantly reduced the levels of uric acid in patients with gout.
Magnesium
The mineral magnesium also demonstrates the ability to minimize the symptoms of gout, including pain, swelling, redness, warmth and inflammation, according to Steven D. Ehrlich, N.M.D., of the VeriMed Healthcare Network. One cup of raw strawberries provides 20 mg of magnesium, which is five per cent of the recommended daily allowance.
Folate
Strawberries provide a rich source of the B vitamin folate. One cup of raw strawberries contains 37 mcg of folate, the equivalent of nine per cent of the recommended daily allowance. Research indicates a connection between low levels of folate and gout onset. An October 2003 study conducted by Taiwanese researchers and published in the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition" found that foods high in folate such as strawberries have a protective effect against gout.
Oxalate
Strawberries also contain oxalate, a chemical compound derived from oxalic acid. According to the Columbia University Medical Center for Holistic Urology a link exists between oxalate, uric acid and kidney stones. The oxalate in strawberries therefore may not only worsen the symptoms of gout, but may put patients at a higher risk for developing kidney stones. Seek medical clearance before you supplement strawberries for gout if you have a history of kidney stones.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Gout; Steven D. Ehrlich, N.M.D.; March 2010
- Archives of Internal Medicine: Vitamin C Intake and the Risk of Gout in Men: A Prospective Study; H.K. Choi et al.; March 2009
- Arthritis and Rheumatism: The Effects of Vitamin C Supplementation on Serum Concentrations of Uric Acid: Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial; H.Y. Huang et al.; June 2005
- American Journal of Clinical Nutrition: A Case-Control Study of the Association of Diet and Obesity with Gout in Taiwan; L.C. Lyu et al.; October 2003
- Columbia University Medical Center: Center for Holistic Urology: Kidney - Kidney Stones
