What are the foods to avoid to prevent gout attacks? The Department of Rheumatology and Immunology from Singapore General Hospital (SGH) answers.
Manage gout by reducing uric acid levels
Gout is an acute form of
arthritis that causes severe pain and swelling in the joints. It most commonly affects the big toe, but can also affect the ankle, hand, wrist, or elbow.
“Lowering your uric acid level through diet can help you to manage gout more effectively. As gout attacks can generally last for up to five days, it is worth your while to familiarise yourself with – and follow – the proper dietary advice, besides taking any medication that was prescribed to you,” shares specialists from the Department of Rheumatology and Immunology at
Singapore General Hospital (SGH), a member of the
SingHealth group.
Reduce intake of high-purine foods to prevent gout attacks
Gout attacks occur when there is a high level of uric acid in the blood. This can cause crystals of uric acid to settle in the joints. As uric acid accumulates with the breakdown of foods containing purine, it is important to reduce the intake of foods high in purine.
Foods high in purine – restrict your intake
Asparagus, cauliflower, mushroom
Oatmeal, wheat bran and wheat germ
Red meat
Foods highest in purine – abstain completely, if possible
Meat extracts
Certain fish or shellfish
Salmon, herring, mackerel, prawn
Anchovies (ikan bilis), sardines, fish roe
Cockles, mussels, scallops
Certain fruits
Beans and legumes
All internal organs of animals and birds
Also,
reduce your consumption of alcoholic beverages if you are prone to gout attacks.
It is important to drink adequate water to help flush out the uric acid, unless you have some contra-indication.
Gout is becoming increasingly common
About 4.1 per cent of Singaporeans suffer from gout, according to the
Singapore Chinese Health Study, which was carried out with 52,322 participants (mean age of 62 years old). The mean age at diagnosis was 55 years.
The disease manifested at a mean age of 44 years, and as early as 16 years, in another local study of 100 gout patients seen in a public hospital.
“Gout appears to be getting more and more common, and there seems to be a worldwide trend towards gout patients getting younger,” noted the SGH Department of Rheumatology and Immunology.
Men are more at risk of gout than women. However, after menopause, women’s risk increases.
What is worrying is that gout is associated with a host of conditions. In one study, the majority of patients had at least one associated disease. The most common one was high blood pressure (hypertension), followed by
high cholesterol,
kidney disease,
heart disease and
diabetes.
Ref: N18
Check out our other gout articles:
Got Gout? Best Foods to Eat
Gout: Causes, Symptoms and Risk Factors
Gout: Diagnosis and Treatment
Gout: Diet Tips and How to Manage Future Attacks