Does Alcohol Consumption Cause Gout
Does alcohol cause gout? The short answer is yes.
Although not all persons that consume it develop gout, a high intake significantly raises ones risk of having it.
With alcohol being a rich source of purines and a stimulant for uric acid production, it will increase the blood level of uric acid in an individual that consumes more than a moderate amount. This, in turn, will cause gout in that individual.
Can I Drink Non
Q) I’m a 61-year-old man with gout and have been told that I shouldn’t drink alcohol as it may exacerbate my symptoms and worsen my attacks. Does this include low or non-alcoholic beers?
James, Andover – 2007
A) Drinking alcohol can make gout worse and alcohol can work against the effect of drugs used to treat gout. The more alcohol, the more this is true. However, there are a few rays of hope. Firstly, not everyone who drinks gets gout, and people can get gout who’ve never touched a drop. The latter group is more common in my experience. Two common conditions where gout occurs are older women taking water tablets and people with a strong family history of gout. Another fact worth knowing is that some forms of alcohol are worse for gout than others. Beer is particularly bad and wine is better. So low alcohol drinks are denitely better than high alcohol drinks, but beer isn’t the best way to take your tipple.
This answer was provided by Dr Philip Helliwell in 2007, and was correct at the time of publication.
Alcohol And Gout Risk
Although beer may be the worst drink for gout, any alcoholic beverage can trigger gout symptoms in people who are prone to the disease. “Alcohol causes the kidneys to excrete alcohol instead of excreting uric acid. That increases the amount of uric acid in the blood, which could provoke a gout attack in about one or two days,” warns David Freeman, MD, a rheumatologist at the Lahey Clinic in Burlington, Mass.
Read Also: Does Wine Contain Carbs
Can Alcohol Cause Muscle And Joint Pain
Studies have shown that moderate drinking of alcohol can have some health benefits, at least according to Medical Dailys Sabrina Bachai. For instance, its been found that it can reduce the risk of some heart problems. However, heavy drinking can have some serious health repercussions.
Apart from health-related issues, alcohol has been associated with some social and economic problems. Some alcoholics will neglect family responsibilities, work, and misuse the available financial resources not forgetting the effects it will bring to friends and the communities they interact with. In this piece, well delve deeper into the effects of alcohol on the most important parts that constitute our body structure, muscles, and joints.
The body is made up of four types of movable joints, namely, gliding joints, interphalangeal joints , pivot joint , and the ball and socket joints. These are the links between all the bones in the body.
With this in mind, there are 360 joints in a fully grown human being. These are then joined by cartilages, tendons, and ligaments that connect to the muscles.
But does alcohol consumption have anything to do with muscle and joint pain? To rephrase that, can alcohol cause muscle and joint pain? With the support of some of the pointers below, the answer is a big capital yes. Find out why and how below.
Wine Implicated In Gout Flares
Beer and hard liquor have long been known to increase the risk of gout, the most common form of inflammatory arthritis, but according to a 2014 study in The American Journal of Medicine, wine also can contribute to recurrent gout attacks.
Gout occurs when excess uric acid builds up around joints often in the big toe, but also in the feet, ankles, knees, wrists and elbows leading to episodes of intense pain, redness and swelling. It affects more than 8 million adults in the United States, and the numbers are rising sharply, due mainly to obesity and other lifestyle factors.
In the 2014 study, 724 gout patients completed questionnaires every few months as well as after gout attacks about their diet, medications, exercise and number of alcoholic drinks consumed. The researchers compared what a participant consumed on an average day to what that participant had consumed in the 24 hours before a gout attack. Researchers looked at the overall effect of alcohol on gout attacks as well as the individual effects of wine, beer and liquor, while taking diet and other factors into account.
Results showed that a single serving of wine, beer or liquor in a 24-hour period didnt significantly increase the chance of repeat gout attacks. But consuming more than one to two drinks a day did by 36%. With two to four drinks, the risk rose 50%, and it continued to rise with the amount of alcohol consumed.
Related Resources:
Also Check: How Many Carbs In Wine
Ethanol And Uric Acid In Men Without Gout
T Nishimura et al. Influence of daily drinking habits on ethanol-induced hyperuricaemia. Metabolism 1994 43: 745-748.
Five healthy men who regularly consumed no alcohol, or less than 20 grams occasionally, and five health regular drinkers who consumed more than 60 grams of alcohol a day were given an oral alcohol load of 0.5 grams of ethanol per kg body weight. Blood samples were taken for up to four hours for measurement of xanthine and xanthine metabolites and for uric acid.
Has Taking Colchicine Cured My Intolerance To Nuts
Q) As a long-term gout sufferer, I’ve been prescribed allopurinol at a hospital but it has tended to promote bouts of gout. The quick-fire cure I’ve found is colchicine, as the side-effects are not too dire. From being very young to the age of 30 I couldn’t tolerate eating peanuts or ground nuts as they caused violent stomach ache. I’ve had gout since the age of 30 and from then to my present age, 64, I’ve enjoyed eating nuts again with no traumas to my digestion. I’ve had no bouts of gout for nearly two years and wondered if this was anything to do with being able to successfully ingest nuts? Food for thought?
Bob, West Totton – 2008
A) A fascinating observation. There are two important points to come out of your letter. Firstly, when people who have gout first start allopurinol there’s a tendency for them to get acute attacks of gout. This happens during the first three months of treatment. Therefore, rheumatologists recommend taking something to help prevent these attacks . Usually that something is an anti-inflammatory drug such as ibuprofen but it could equally be colchicine or even steroids if the other two drugs couldn’t be tolerated. Not giving this prophylaxis is the single most important reason why people don’t persist with allopurinol treatment. And allopurinol is currently the best way of preventing gout attacks.
This answer was provided by Dr Philip Helliwell in 2008, and was correct at the time of publication.
Recommended Reading: Choya Plum Wine Where To Buy
Link Between Gout And Alcohol Consumption
One of the risk factors for gout is alcohol consumption. Others include high intake of purine-rich foods and dehydration.
The link between alcohol and gout is that it contains purines which the body breaks down to uric acid. It also causes the breakdown of genetic materials called nucleotides, which are also sources of purines. In addition, alcohol increases the secretion of uric acid in the body and reduces its excretion through the kidneys.
Orange Juice And Gout Risk
Many sugar-sweetened juices can increase your risk for gout, but naturally-sweetened juices like orange juice may also be a gout risk trigger. “In the last 10 years, there has been some evidence from some studies that high fructose in fruit juices may be associated with a higher risk of gout,” says Dr. Freeman. Fructose is a sugar that is added to soft drinks, but it occurs naturally in orange juice, so drinking too much OJ could be as risky as drinking a sugary soft drink.
Don’t Miss: Homemade Wine Rack Pallet
Should I Take Calcium And Vitamin D Supplements
Q) I once was told the hard, arthritic lumps on my finger joints were caused by excess calcium sediments hardening. Why then do I take recommended calcium and vitamin D tablets? Wouldn’t this give me even more calcium in my body? Should I take them or not?
I’m 72 and have hip, knee, hands and feet problems but otherwise very healthy and happy.
Joyce – 2018
A) The lumps on your finger joints are called Heberdens nodes and usually affect the joints closest to the ends of the fingers . Heberdens nodes are caused by growth of bony spurs from the joint surface called osteophytes. They can happen when a joint is affected by osteoarthritis.
Heberdens nodes arent caused by an excess of calcium and vitamin D. Supplements of calcium and vitamin D are usually used to help keep the bones strong and prevent fractures, but if youre not clear why you’re taking these supplements it’d be a good idea to ask your GP or pharmacist for help in making a decision about whether or not it would be beneficial for you to keep taking them.
This answer was provided by Dr Tom Margham in 2018, and was correct at the time of publication.
Middle Aged Men Most At Risk
Although exact figures are not known, it is estimated that 2 million Americans have gout. A type of arthritis that occurs most frequently in overweight, middle-aged men, gout is caused by the buildup of needle-like crystals of uric acid in the joints.
While there is certainly a genetic link to the disease, there is also no question that lifestyle is a key contributing factor. The link between alcohol and gout has been suspected for thousands of years, but the new research is some of the first to actually confirm the association.
The study involved 47,000 men followed for 12 years. During this time, 730 of the men developed gout. The findings are published in the April 17 issue of The Lancet.
“We showed a sight protective effect for wine drinking among people who drank less than two drinks per day, although the effect was not statistically significant,” Choi tells WebMD. “But it is intriguing and deserves further study.”
Don’t Miss: How To Remove Red Wine From Cotton
The Risk Of Mixing Over
Many people mistakenly think that because a medication is sold over the counter that it carries no risk or that its safe to mix with alcohol. But the truth is, even over-the-counter drugs can be dangerous when mixed with alcohol.
Some of the most common over-the-counter medications used to treat pain can stress vital organs and cause serious complications when taken with alcohol.
The following non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may increase the risk of ulcers and stomach or GI bleeding:
- aspirin
Acetaminophen , another popular over-the-counter pain reliever, can increase the risk of liver problems.
Understanding How Gout Works
In order to understand the connection between beer and gout, you first have to understand how gout works. If you have been diagnosed with it, you probably know already that it can cause excruciating pains in joints. It mostly affects feet and especially the big toes. Other than that, you know that it can bring in visible inflammations that will interfere with your lifestyle. But how does it get so far?
Suggested article: What Is Gout? Symptoms, Stages and Treatment Of Gout
Gout comes in more stages. During the first stage, levels of uric acid in the bloodstream go up, but they fail to cause any symptoms. You feel perfectly fine. The second stage involves gout attacks, flareups and visible inflammation. This is the most common stage. The third and most harmful one involves chronic gout it happens when you ignore gout for too long and it affects more joints.
Suggested article: 4 Stages Of Gout And Risk Factors All You Need To Know
Too much uric acid will build deposits around joints. With time, they crystallize, so they feel like tiny pieces of glass in your joints hence the painful sensations. People with gout may also experience other problems if they fail to look after themselves, such as diabetes and heart related problems. If you have been diagnosed with gout, chances are your doctor has also recommended some strict dietary changes.
Suggested article: Gout And Diabetes Can Diabetes Cause Gout?
Read Also: Diy Pallet Wall Wine Rack
Interesting Study Measuring Alcohol Consumption And Gout
In one of the largest studies of its kind, researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, American College of Rheumatology, and Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland studied the effect of alcohol consumption on gout on 47,000 male participants over the course of 12 years.
Beer: The results concluded that alcohol intake is strongly related to an increased risk in gout. Beer, containing the most purines, was the greatest offender. As few as two to four beers per week increased the risk of gout by 25%. Those drinking two or more per day increased their risk by a whopping 200%.
Hard Liquor: Hard liquor fared only slightly better. Those consuming as little as one drink per month were at an increased risk for a gout attack. Those who drank daily increased their risk by 60%
Wine: Wine is the clear winner when it comes to the beverage of choice for gout sufferers. Though wine also contains purines, the study concluded that it had no measurable effect on gout instances.
Alcohol Abuse Can Weaken The Immune System
Alcohol can impair the immune system. This can make it more difficult for the body to heal itself.
For a person with a condition that causes joint pain, this could make it harder for the body to combat the conditions that trigger pain. For acute injuries, such as sprains or falls, that cause joint pain, this could potentially slow down the healing process, causing the pain to last longer.
You May Like: How To Get Red Wine Out Of A White Shirt
How Does Wine Affect Gout Sufferers
Q: My family has a genetic predisposition to gout. I’m trying to make sure I’m in the best possible shape as I enter my 50s, but I’ve read conflicting information about wine’s relationship with gout. Is wine good for gout sufferers and those prone to it, or not? What’s the verdict?
A: Gout, an arthritic disease caused by a buildup of uric acid crystal deposits, usually on the joints, can cause pain, burning sensations, rednesss, swelling and stiffness. Flare-ups can be triggered by various foods, medications, weight changes and alcohol. Historically known as a “rich man’s disease” because it was often associated with excessive food and drink, the clinical picture of gout is more complex. There is a genetic component to this condition, so if you have a family history, be conscious of risk factors that you can control, like a healthy diet.
As for alcohol and its relationship with gout, a 2004 Harvard Medical School study on the effects of alcohol on gout patients concluded that wine drinkers showed no greater or lesser chance of developing gout compared with nondrinkers. Spirits drinkers’ chances of developing gout grew by 15 percent for every shot of liquor they consumed each day, and beer drinkers’ proclivity grew by 49 percent with each daily beer.
Have a question about wine and healthy living? .
What Is Gout And What Causes It
Gout is just one type of arthritis, and it most often presents itself in a joint of one of your big toes. When it hits, it develops fast and usually comes back repeatedly. Every time you suffer a new attack, the tissues in your big toe, or wherever you experience the inflammation, deteriorates more and more. If you have cardiovascular issues, or high blood pressure, you are at an even higher risk of developing this condition obesity also increases this risk.
In chronic tophaceous gout, youll notice large lumps where a gout attack is occurring. These lumps are called tophi. These are clumps of urate crystals, which develop in areas where your body is cooler, such as your fingers and other extremities. If you havent received treatment for your symptoms , this is the type of gout you may experience.
Uric acid builds up in your body when purines are being broken down. Purines are chemical compounds commonly found in seafood, red meat, poultry, and alcohol . The levels of purines in these meats are high, making them more inflammatory than other foods. To prevent the development of gout or to control it post-diagnosis, you need to learn which foods are more inflammatory and which are less inflammatory.
Recommended Reading: Make Glasses From Wine Bottles
How Does Alcohol Impact Recurrent Attacks Of Gout
Alcohol consumption has been shown to trigger attacks of gout. In a 2-year study conducted in the United Kingdom, 550 participants self-reported the triggers of their most recent gout attacks. The findings from the study showed that alcohol consumption was responsible for about 1 in 7 attacks of recurrent gout.9 This was significantly higher than other self-reported triggers of gout, such as dehydration and consumption of red-meat or sea-food .
In an even larger study conducted in New Zealand that involved over 2,000 men and women with gout, alcohol was the self-reported trigger of almost half of all gout attacks.10 A study conducted in an outpatient gout clinic in China reported similar findings, with over 60% of the patients that presented with attacks of gout reporting alcohol consumption prior to the attack.11
What Really Leads To Gout Attacks
Actually, wine may cause gout attacks. This is actually a fact, and there is no rebuffing it. The question now is, why? Theres thought to be a real reason behind it. Do you know what the mechanism of the gout attacks is? Read on to know! Gout attacks are mainly due to the autoimmune responses that result from the uric acid crystal formation in the synovial joints synovial fluids. Though the formation of the uric acid crystal is purely avoidable, the mere existence of the uric acid is an indication that you can never remove it. This is mainly because the uric acid is the outcome of breaking down the purine thats present in various parts of your body.
The purine is the material that is significant in the production of DNA so everywhere in there is DNA, which simply converts to anywhere inside of you, purine is there. Additionally, purine is in every food that you eat. Usually, all those uric acid may be flushed out by the body. That is, when the liver and the kidneys arent too busy with some other stuff, like flushing lactic acid out of the body.
Recommended Reading: Wine Labels For Bridesmaids
