Gout

Got Gout? Reduce Red Meat

To some, gout sounds like a disease out of a 16th century novel. That's probably because this joint disease famously afflicted King Henry VIII of England, Leonardo de Vinci and other luminaries from the past. It's been theorized that these historical figures had gout because they lived a life of luxury eating red meat and seafood while most dined like paupers. Today, more people are taking advantage of the fact grocery stores are brimming with foods once held for the elite. Unfortunately, fewer people are eating protective fruits, vegetables and low-fat diary products that are also at their fingertips. As a result, gout is more of an equal-opportunity disease, affecting more than 5 million American adults.

Some experts also speculate that the followers of the popular high-protein, low-carb diets may be at particular risk. And a 2004 study, published in The New England Journal of Medicine, confirms what has long been suspected: that there is a link between red meat and seafood and increased gout risk. It also found that some foods protect against gout. The 12-year study found that each piece of meat increased gout risk by 21 percent and each piece of seafood increased risk by 7 percent, but that one low-fat diary product a day reduced risk by about 21 percent.

What is gout?
Gout is caused by deposits of uric acid in connective tissue, often in joints of the feet and ankles, and can lead to inflammatory arthritis. Symptoms include swelling, redness, stiffness and severe pain. Although attacks of gout can subside in a few days, repeated attacks can cause permanent joint damage and the disease frequently results in substantial disability.

Foods rich in purines, like red meat, have been associated with an increased risk of gout. Purine can lead to high levels of uric acid, which can build up in the joints and crystallize, causing an attack.

Treatment includes pain-relieving drugs such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and for more serious outbreaks, corticosteroid medication. Most people with gout eventually require long-term preventative medications.

Why do people experience attacks of gout?
It is not entirely clear, but experts think there are certain triggering factors that make the uric acid more crystallized in tissues. Those triggering factors have been thought to be binge drinking or binge eating of high-purine foods, and perhaps joint trauma. However, these factors have not been well proven in clinical studies.

How is gout diagnosed?
Gout is diagnosed based on the characteristic of the attacks, such as swelling, redness and stiffness in the joints. However, the definitive diagnosis is based on the visualization of uric acid crystals under microscope from joint fluid. That is obtained with by putting a needle into an affected joint by a rheumatologist.

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