Uric acid is a product of the breakdown of DNA from body cells and food. The more nucleoprotein there is in food, the larger the quantity of DNA.
A low purine diet is occasionally used in patients suffering from gout. The principle sources of purines are:
- fish - anchovies, crab, fish roes, herrings, mackerel, sardines, shrimps, sprats, and whitebait
- meat - liver, heart, kidney, and sweetbreads
- meat extracts - OXO, Bovril, Broth, stock
In general, vegetables contain relatively low levels of DNA, although asparagus and pulses are above average.
The relationship of alcohol intake to development of gout occurs in a number of ways:
- alcohol metabolism to lactate contributes to urate retention
- port, some red wines and stouts contain purines or oxypurines, which lead to an increased purine load
- alcohol may contribute to obesity which is associated with underexcretion of uric acid
Patients with a history of gout are advised to drink plenty of fluid, approximately 2 litres per day (non-alcoholic).
The British Society of Rheumatology states (2):
- "..In overweight patients, dietary modification to achieve a gradual reduction in body weight and subsequent maintenance should be encouraged. Diet and exercise should be discussed with all patients with gout, and a well-balanced diet low in fat and added sugars, and high in vegetables and fibre should be encouraged: sugar-sweetened soft drinks containing fructose should be avoided; excessive intake of alcoholic drinks and high purine foods should be avoided; and inclusion of skimmed milk and/or low fat yoghurt, soy beans and vegetable sources of protein, and cherries in the diet should be encouraged.."
NICE state (3):
- there is not enough evidence to show that any specific diet prevents flares or lowers serum urate levels
- advise them to follow a healthy, balanced diet
- advise people with gout that excess body weight or obesity, or excessive alcohol consumption, may exacerbate gout flares and symptoms
Reference:
- Prescriber (2002), 13 (13), 22-30.
- Hui M et al. for the British Society for Rheumatology Standards, Audit and Guidelines Working Group, The British Society for Rheumatology Guideline for the Management of Gout, Rheumatology (2017), 56 (7): 1056-1059, https://doi.org/10.1093/rheumatology/kex150
- NICE (June 2022). Gout: diagnosis and management