Neuropathy, Mediterranean Diet And Gout Symptoms

At first glance, neuropathy and gout would seem to have little in common. Neuropathy involves a malfunctioning of the nervous system’s communications network, while gout is a painful form of arthritis. However, both of these disorders commonly affect the hands and feet, although in significantly different ways. Moreover, both conditions seem to respond positively to the Mediterranean diet, which health professionals have long touted for its heart-healthy benefits.

Neuropathy

Neuropathy, sometimes called peripheral neuropathy, is a disorder in which the nerves that carry messages between your brain and the rest of your body begin to malfunction. Symptoms can include pain, tingling or a loss of sensation in your hands and your feet, according to MayoClinic.com. The cause of neuropathy is nerve damage, which can result from an acute infection, metabolic disorders, traumatic injury or exposure to toxins. One of the most common causes of peripheral neuropathy is diabetes.

Gout

Also known as gouty arthritis, gout is a condition in which uric acid crystals accumulate in joints -- most often in toes, fingers and ankles -- causing extreme pain. Gout can occur if your body produces excess acid, is unable to eliminate adequate amounts of the acid or if your diet is extremely high in purines, according to MedlinePlus. Purine-rich foods include organ meats, such as liver, kidneys and sweetbreads; anchovies; sardines; dried beans; and gravies.

Makeup of Mediterranean Diet

The Mediterranean diet incorporates the eating habits of people living in the countries that border the Mediterranean Sea. One of its most notable characteristics is its high levels of healthy unsaturated fats from avocados, fish and olive oil and its almost total avoidance of the saturated fats found in butter, margarine, red meats and some vegetable oils. The diet is also rich in whole grains; fresh fruits and vegetables; legumes, nuts and seeds; spices and seasonings in place of salt; and sugars from natural sources, such as fruit and honey, according to The Complete Idiot’s Guide to the Mediterranean Diet. The diet includes moderate amounts of fish and shellfish, poultry, red wine and dairy products, mostly no-fat or low-fat. The diet includes little, if any, red meat.

Diet's Benefits for Neuropathy

A major factor in the development of peripheral neuropathy, particularly diabetic neuropathy, is microvascular damage, which is impairment of the body’s small blood vessels. Studies indicate that adherence to a Mediterranean-style diet promotes microvascular health, according to Application of the Mediterranean-Style Diet Principles to the American Diet.
Unlike the typical American diet, which is high in omega-6 fatty acids and lower in omega-3 fats, the Mediterranean diet strikes a more optimal balance between omega-3 and omega-6 fats. Overconsumption of omega-6 fatty acids can lead to excessive inflammation, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Too much omega-6 and not enough omega-3 may lay the foundation for the development of metabolic syndrome, a major risk factor for diabetes and possible neuropathy.

Diet's Benefits for Gout

The primary cause of gout is elevated levels of uric acid, also known as hyperuricemia. Greek researchers conducted a study among elderly residents of Ikaria, an island in the Aegean, to assess the effects of the Mediterranean diet on uric acid levels. In their findings, published in the September 2011 issue of Maturitas, researchers reported that strict adherence to the diet significantly reduced the incidence of hyperuricemia.