Purines are substances produced in your body and contained in certain foods that can potentially trigger or worsen bouts of a form of arthritis called gout. Fish oil is a product derived from various species of fatty fish found in cold ocean water. All of these fish contain at least moderate amounts of purines, and some species used for fish oil have high purine levels.
Purine Background
Purines are a group of nitrogen-containing molecules that your body uses to create the acids that form both DNA and RNA. They also form the basis of a vital internal energy source called adenosine triphosphate, or ATP. Types of purine molecules include adenine, guanine, xanthine and hypoxanthine. Use of internal purines, or purines from external sources, leaves behind a waste product called uric acid. Normally, this acid collects in your kidneys and is eliminated when you urinate. In people with gout, uric acid collects abnormally and settles into the joints, where it crystallizes and forms painful, irritating deposits.
Fish Oil Background
Fish oil is found in a number of different species commonly consumed in human diets, including sardines, mackerel, herring, trout, sturgeon, menhaden, tuna, mullet, bluefish, anchovies and salmon. Fish oil supplements typically come from a smaller number of species --- including herring, mackerel, tuna, cod, halibut and salmon --- as well as from seal or whale blubber. Oil from these species is important to human health because it contains substances called omega-3 fatty acids, which you need to maintain certain aspects of your day-to-day body function. The main omega-3s in fish oil and fish oil supplements are docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA, and eicosapentaenoic acid, also called EPA.
High- and Medium-Purine Oils
The fish oil species herring, mackerel, sardines and anchovies are particularly high in purines, according to Drugs.com. All other fish species, including those containing fish oil or used in supplement production, are classified as medium-purine foods. Typically, people with gout are advised to avoid high-purine foods and consult their doctors before consuming medium-purine foods. While avoiding or limiting purine consumption won't cure gout, purine restrictions can potentially help ease existing gout symptoms or help you prevent painful gout attacks.
Considerations
Other common high-purine foods include fish eggs, organ meats such as liver or sweetbreads, game meats such as duck or goose, baker's or brewer's yeast, gravy, mincemeat, meat extracts and meat-based soup components such as bouillon, consommé and broth. Other common medium-purine foods include most poultry, all red meats not categorized as high-purine foods, cauliflower, oatmeal and oats, mushrooms, asparagus, whole-grain products and dried lentils, peas or beans. Low-purine foods include skim or low-fat milk, vegetables not categorized as medium-purine foods, chicken eggs, coffee, tea, refined grain products, nuts and nut butters, pasta, fruit and fruit juice. Consult your doctor for more information on fish oil and the purine content of the foods in your diet.
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