[added Nov. 2009] The latest Science, 13 Nov, reports “Researchers have been testing the same drug against gout.” The successful new treatment is already being used for Crohns and other conditions based on errant inflammatory responses.

based on Prevention Magazine p. 83 by Andrew Weil, MDMostly I trust Weil’s opinion. One of his chief residents at his health operation connected with the Univ. of AZ for several years recently was biochem alum Dr. Yoon Kim! Some experts predict that low-carb diets could promote a surge of gout. Red meat contains purines that metabolize into uric acid, which crystallizes in joints, esp. the big toe. Dr. Weil’s recommendations of what to do:

  1. Eat bright fruits – red, blue, or purple, like cherries, berries, or dark grapes, esp. blueberries – EVERY DAY. They are rich in antioxidants and may reduce inflammationcausing gout flareups.
  2. Take fish oilsupplements – omega-3s in fish oil don’t contain the purines found in much seafood. Weil suggests starting with one 500 mg capsule, working up to as many as 4 per day.
  3. Add other omega-3foods – nuts, whole soy products, eggs, and flaxseed. The omega-3s produce prostaglandins which inhibit inflammation.
  4. Go light on meats. He mentions a study in NEJM last March, 2004 which shows lamb, beef, pork and seafood increase gout risk, while vegetables, soy, poultry, and low-fat dairy products do not.
  5. He recommends things containing turmericand ginger, bioflavonoids, flavonoids, quercetin, anthocyanins, and proantocyanins three times a day. He talks about pills for these, but dark fruits are loaded with them.
  6. He suggests lots of liquids, esp. water, to dilute the uric acid so it doesn’t crystallize. You can have wine– up to 8 ounces per day. Beer and hard liquor raise the risk of gout, but wine did not. No citation for this one.
  7. Lose weightand exercise regularly – swimming is easiest on joints.
  8. Ibuprofen and acupuncture are helpful for pain.

Roc’s comment: Much of this makes sense, and follows many solidly proven studies supporting benefits of antioxidants (vitamin C and E), fish oil, wine, nuts, blueberries, fruit, and dairy.