Keeping a healthy body weight key to curbing gout cases
January 4, 2021 (Vancouver) – A new Arthritis Research Canada study finds an estimated 77 per cent of gout cases could be avoided by controlling body weight and modifying specific lifestyle factors, including diet. 
Maintaining a normal BMI, avoiding alcohol consumption, eating a diet high in fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy products, as well as low in red/processed meats and sweetened beverages, and no diuretic use, was associated with a substantially lower risk of incident gout during follow-up.
This study included 44,654 American men followed over 26 years.
“Modifying behaviour can play an important role in reducing incidences of this painful disease,” said Natalie McCormick, a research trainee at Arthritis Research Canada.
The findings also suggest that 22 per cent of gout cases could, in theory, be prevented by following the DASH diet, which is rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low-fat dairy. It could also further prevent and treat related conditions like hypertension, which affects nearly 75 per cent of gout patients.
Gout is the most common inflammatory arthritis in most Western countries and gout flares are among the most painful events experienced by people. Paralleling the modern obesity epidemic, the disease burden of gout is also increasing around the world.
To read the full research paper, please click here.
