Cherries May Lower Risk of Gout Attacks By 35 Percent

Eating cherries over a two-day period may help to lower the risk of gout attacks by 35 percent, finds a study.

Findings from this case-crossover study also suggest that risk of gout flares was 75 percent lower when cherry intake was combined with the uric-acid reducing drug, allopurinol, than in periods without exposure to cherries or treatment.

Gout and Diet - Dietary Intervention - Reference
In gout excess of uric acid appears in the blood and its particles are deposited in joints as tophi.

Gout is an inflammatory arthritis triggered by a crystallization of uric acid within the joints that causes excruciating pain and swelling.

While there are many treatment options available, gout patients continue to be burdened by recurrent gout attacks, prompting patients and investigators to seek other preventive options such as cherries.

Prior studies suggest that cherry products have urate-lowering effects and anti-inflammatory properties, and thus may have the potential to reduce gout pain. However, no study has yet to assess whether cherry consumption could lower risk of gout attacks.

About Gout
High levels of uric acid in blood and recurring attacks of joint inflammation are the main symptoms of gout. Lifestyle changes like weight loss, increasing fluid intake and dietary changes can help.

For the present study, lead author Dr. Yuqing Zhang, Professor of Medicine and Public Health at Boston University and colleagues recruited 633 gout patients who were followed online for one year.

Participants were asked about the date of gout onset, symptoms, medications and risk factors, including cherry and cherry extract intake in the two days prior to the gout attack. A cherry serving was one half cup or 10 to 12 cherries.

Diet, Nutrition and Supplements for Osteo-Arthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis patients should consume a diet rich in natural antioxidant and anti-inflammatory nutrients and avoid foods like sugar, saturated fats, and trans fatty acids.

"Our findings indicate that consuming cherries or cherry extract lowers the risk of gout attack," said Dr. Zhang.

"The gout flare risk continued to decrease with increasing cherry consumption, up to three servings over two days," the researcher stated.

Drinking Tart Cherry Juice Significantly Lowers Arthritis Pain
Intake of tart cherries regularly can help reduce chronic inflammation in people suffering from joint pain and arthritis, finds a new research.

The researchers found that further cherry intake did not provide any additional benefit. However, the protective effect of cherry intake persisted after taking into account patients' sex, body mass (obesity), purine intake, along with use of alcohol, diuretics and anti-gout medications.

Findings of the study have been published in Arthritis and Rheumatism, a journal of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR).

Source-ANI