A purine-restricted diet may help you avoid flareups of gout, a form of arthritis that can cause excruciating joint pain. A purine-restricted diet may also help you manage your weight and lower your risk of heart disease, a condition that may be associated with gout. Many nutritious foods contain purines, including poultry and fish, whole grains, legumes and vegetables. Work with your health-care provider to develop an eating plan that will meet your dietary requirements while preventing gout attacks.
Definition
Purines occur naturally in your body and in many foods. These substances play vital roles in cellular energy production and in the formation of your cells' genetic material. When your body breaks down purines, they form uric acid, which your kidneys normally filter from your bloodstream and excrete in the urine. High levels of uric acid in your blood may lead to the accumulation of uric acid crystals in your joints, a condition called gout. Gout can cause swelling, inflammation and severe joint pain, particularly in the big toes, ankles, knees, wrists and fingers.
Purpose
A purine-restricted diet, in combination with anti-inflammatory drugs and pain medications, may prevent gout attacks. Restricting foods that are rich in purines reduces your body's production of uric acid, which limits the formation of uric acid crystals in your joints. In addition to restricting purines, your health-care provider may advise your to make other changes in your diet, such as drinking at least 10 8-oz. cups of water or other liquids each day to help your kidneys flush uric acid from your system. Reducing high-fat foods and sugar may help you avoid obesity, a condition that may increase the frequency of gout attacks. Consult your health-care provider before increasing your fluid intake or making changes in your diet.
Purine Sources
A purine-restricted diet limits foods with a high purine content but does not eliminate purine-containing foods altogether. Because all animal-based proteins contain purines, MayoClinic.com recommends that you eat no more than 4 to 6 oz. of meat, poultry or fish each day. Organ meats, mussels, shrimp and fatty fish like herring and tuna, anchovies and sardines are some of the richest sources of purines. Bouillon and broth, meat extracts and game meats should also be reduced or avoided on a purine-restricted diet. Foods with a moderate purine content include beef, pork, lamb, lean fish like halibut or haddock, chicken, dried beans, asparagus, mushrooms, cauliflower, oatmeal and whole wheat. Low-purine foods include eggs, nuts, creamy soups, fruits and juices and grain products made with refined grains.
Additional Guidelines
Limiting your alcohol intake may help you avoid gout pain. Drinking alcoholic beverages, especially beer, can promote the buildup of uric acid in your bloodstream. Consuming low-fat or nonfat milk and yogurt may prevent gout flareups. In addition to restricting purines, eating more plant-based proteins, such as legumes and tofu, which are low in saturated fat, may reduce your risk of gout attacks. Replacing refined grain products with whole-grain breads and cereals and increasing your intake of fruits and vegetables may help you manage your weight and improve your overall health. Losing weight may help you manage pain by relieving stress on your joints and lowering the level of uric acid in your bloodstream. Consult your health-care provider to develop a comprehensive treatment plan for gout.
References
- MayoClinic.com: Gout Diet; March 10, 2010
- Drugs.com: Low Purine Diet; March 18, 2011
- Merck Manuals Online Medical Library: Purine and Pyrimidine Metabolism Disorders; Chin-To Fong, M.D.; February 2010
- "American Family Physician"; Gout and Hyperuricemia; Mark D. Harris, M.D., et al; February 15, 1999
