Articles
Gout and Elevated Uric Acid Levels
Gout is a condition that results from an increased
breakdown of purines—natural substances found in both the human body and
food—into uric acid, which functions as an antioxidant.
There are several
types of purines, including:
Guanine, Adenine, Hypoxanthine, and Xanthine.
People with gout need
to monitor not only the amount of purines they consume, but also the type—especially
hypoxanthine, which is particularly problematic.
Gout is considered a lifestyle-related
disease. Historically, it was known as “the disease of kings” due to its
association with rich, meat-heavy diets among the wealthy. Gout is
characterized by acute joint inflammation caused by uric acid
crystals forming in the joints.
Main Causes of
Elevated Uric Acid:
- Being overweight, especially with other
chronic conditions (e.g., diabetes, high cholesterol, elevated blood fats)
- Lack of physical activity
- Certain medications (e.g., diuretics,
antihypertensives)
- Hypothyroidism
- Diets rich in purines
- Excessive alcohol intake
Normal Uric Acid
Levels
|
Group |
Normal Range
(mg/dL) |
|
Women |
2.5 – 6.0 |
|
Men |
3.5 – 7.2 |
|
Postmenopausal Women |
3.5 – 7.2 |
Recommended Daily
Intake of Purines
To avoid gout or
manage it, the daily intake of purines should not exceed 400 mg.
Purine content in
foods is classified as:
- Low: < 100 mg / 100 g
- Moderate: 100–200 mg / 100 g
- High: > 200 mg / 100 g
High-Purine Foods
to Avoid (≥ 200 mg/100g)
|
Food |
Purine Content
(mg/100g) |
|
DNA/RNA supplements |
25,640.8 |
|
Brewer's yeast |
3,561.5 |
|
Spirulina supplement |
1,268.5 |
|
Nori seaweed |
695.6 |
|
Royal Jelly
supplement |
494.3 |
|
Dried shiitake
mushrooms |
448.4 |
|
Chicken liver |
363.1 |
|
Parsley |
341.3 |
|
Oriental shrimp |
321.1 |
|
Bonito fish |
258.9 |
|
Beef liver |
255.5 |
|
Sardines |
247.1 |
|
Kurumu shrimp |
235.3 |
|
Beef heart |
223.6 |
|
Beef kidneys |
203.4 |
|
Baby spinach |
202.1 |
|
Dried soybeans |
201.7 |
Moderate-Purine
Foods (100–200 mg/100g)
Recommended only
occasionally—once a week or every 10 days, with portion control
|
Food |
Purine Content
(mg/100g) |
|
Mackerel |
198.4 |
|
Tuna |
193.3 |
|
Chicken breast |
171.8 |
|
Chicken gizzard |
169.8 |
|
Herring |
169.8 |
|
Chicken wing |
168.1 |
|
Oyster sauce |
161.8 |
|
Snow crab |
161.4 |
|
Canned salmon |
159.7 |
|
Octopus |
159.7 |
|
Red carp |
158.0 |
|
Chicken heart |
150.0 |
|
Chicken feet |
149.6 |
|
Fresh salmon |
146.2 |
|
Canned tuna |
142.9 |
|
Beef feet |
127.8 |
|
Beef neck |
121.0 |
|
Beef loin |
119.4 |
|
Rice bran |
116.9 |
|
Beef shoulder |
109.3 |
Low-Purine Foods
(< 100 mg/100g)
Safe for frequent
consumption
|
Food |
Purine Content
(mg/100g) |
|
Buckwheat flour |
89.1 |
|
Broccoli |
81.8 |
|
Green pepper |
79.8 |
|
Cauliflower |
67.2 |
|
Asparagus tops |
64.7 |
|
Spinach leaves |
61.0 |
|
Eggplant |
58.7 |
|
Peanuts |
57.1 |
|
Bran |
52.1 |
|
Almonds |
37.0 |
|
White rice |
30.3 |
|
Soy milk |
25.8 |
|
Sweet potato |
20.1 |
|
Garlic |
20.1 |
|
Zucchini |
15.3 |
|
Corn |
13.7 |
|
Asparagus base |
12.0 |
|
Cucumber |
11.1 |
|
Cheese |
6.7 |
|
Yogurt |
6.2 |
|
Cabbage |
3.8 |
|
Cherry tomatoes |
3.7 |
|
Banana |
3.5 |
|
Onion |
2.7 |
|
Ginger |
2.5 |
|
Carrot |
2.5 |
|
Strawberries |
2.4 |
|
Eggs |
0.0 |
|
Milk |
0.0 |
Additional Tips
- Lose weight gradually (especially if overweight or obese) and
engage in physical activity at least 3–4 times per week.
- Eat at least 2 servings of fruit
and 3 servings of vegetables daily.
- Avoid sugary drinks, fruit juices, honey, and fruits high in fructose,
as they may increase uric acid levels.
- Drink plenty of water and fluids to prevent uric acid buildup
and improve excretion.
- Desideri, G. Castaldo, A. Lombardi, M. Mussap, A. Testa, R. Pontremoli, L. Punzi, C. Borghi Is it time to revise the normal range of serum uric acid levels?
- Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci
Year: 2014
Vol. 18– N.9
Pages: 1295-1306 - Kaneko, Kiyoko et al. “Total purine and purine base content of common foodstuffs for facilitating nutritional therapy for gout and hyperuricemia.” Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin ٣٧ ٥ (٢٠١٤): ٧٠٩-٢١ .