How is uric acid produced in the body?
- Damage to joints, vessels and organs
- gout medications
- This diet helps with gout
Along with urea and creatinine, uric acid is one of the so-called urinary substances. These must be excreted in the urine. They are therefore also used as a marker for kidney health. If you have elevated values, this can be attributed to various causes, which can subsequently cause inflammatory reactions such as gout or kidney and ureter stones. If you ban certain foods from your diet and eat a balanced diet, you can permanently lower your uric acid levels.
How is uric acid produced in the body? Breakdown of purines through diet, alcohol, medication
Uric acid is formed when purines are broken down. These are part of every cell and are necessary for the genetic material and the construction of new cells. Through purine-rich foods such as fatty meat, certain types of fish or fruit rich in sugar, we absorb additional purines that the body also has to metabolize. The consumption of fructose (fruit sugar) is also increasingly being targeted by researchers. Fructose is added to many products in the food industry in the form of corn starch, for example when sweetening soft drinks. But purines are also produced when the body's own cells are broken down. This is particularly the case with chemotherapy.
Uric acid also has positive effects and is important for protection against free radicals. It acts as an antioxidant, thus protecting against free radicals and thus protecting the tissue. Experts speak of so-called hyperuricemia when the uric acid concentration in the blood serum rises to over 6.7 mg/dl in women and to 7.4 mg/dl in men. Two different forms are distinguished:
Pr1. Pay attention to vegetarian and alkaline food: The so-called DASH diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension), which is based on a typical Mediterranean diet, is actually recommended for patients with high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels. However, a study was able to show that a reduction in uric acid levels is also achieved. In general, the following foods should be on your menu:
- Vegetables, sour cherries, berries
- reduced-fat dairy products, especially yogurt, quark and hard cheese
- Organic eggs
- Cereal products or flakes
- Potatoes, egg noodles, rice
Imary hyperuricemia: This is a genetic disorder that can affect both uric acid production and uric acid excretion. Certain enzymes that are important for uric acid metabolism then only function to a limited extent.
Secondary hyperuricemia: Various diseases or effects of medications come into consideration here. Blood formation disorders, blood cancers (leukemias), kidney diseases, alcoholism or water-relieving medications (diuretics) can promote an increase in uric acid concentrations.
Too much uric acid damages joints, vessels and organs - gout is one of the main consequences
Too much uric acid in the body does not always lead to problems. However, if the uric acid concentration consistently exceeds a certain limit, uric acid crystals form that can be deposited in body tissues.
Gout is one of the most common inflammatory joint diseases in Germany. During an acute gout attack, the body attempts to break down the uric acid crystals in the joint via an inflammatory reaction. The typical symptoms of inflammation then appear, such as overheating, swelling, redness and very severe pain. Joints that are far from the center of the body and have less blood supply are often affected. Typically, the first acute attacks of gout appear in the metatarsophalangeal joint of the big toe, followed by the knee, elbow, wrist and finger joints.
Coolness promotes the precipitation of uric acid crystals, as does a low pH value in the tissue. Infections and physical exertion can also trigger a gout attack. Typically, gout patients are male, overweight and suffer from high blood pressure, diabetes or kidney dysfunction. There is also much to suggest that too much uric acid can also damage the cardiovascular system and blood vessels. Long before the first gout attack, the crystallizing uric acid can also promote the development of kidney stones and hinder drainage.
Natural active ingredient dangerous - these drugs really help against gout
Due to the massive inflammatory processes in the body, doctors see the need to permanently reduce uric acid levels. According to the "S2 Guideline for Gouty Arthritis", in the event of an acute gout attack, the inflammation and pain must first be treated. The drug of choice for an acute gout attack is colchicine, a naturally occurring substance from the poisonous plant autumn crocus. However, determining the dose is often difficult because symptoms of poisoning can occur under certain circumstances.
After a gout attack has been overcome, long-term therapy can be started to prevent it from becoming chronic. However, drug treatment is also associated with side effects, so detailed information in a doctor's consultation with the patient significantly increases the success of the treatment.
So-called uricostatics are usually used, such as allopurinol or febuxostat. These inhibit an enzyme, which reduces the formation of uric acid. Additionally, there are drugs called uricosurics that promote the excretion of uric acid, like probenecid or benzbromarone.
Foods for gout: How you can lower uric acid levels with proper nutrition
The upper limit of 500 milligrams of purines should not be exceeded daily.There should not be more than 300 milligrams during acute gout attacks. The food table on gichtinfo.de provides a good overview of the uric acid content. In order to keep purine levels low, changing your diet can be very effective.
2. Avoid foods rich in purines: It is important that you do not consume too many purines at once. For example, you shouldn't combine high-fat meals with meat and alcohol. As a guide, for example, 150 grams of meat or chicken contains about half the amount of purines you should consume daily - about 210 milligrams. But smaller portions of meat can also be prepared tasty, for example as sliced meat. At the same time, removing the skin from fish, meat or chicken helps to save a lot of purines, just like avoiding high-fat sausages and offal. However, contrary to previous recommendations, legumes and soy products are harmless in moderation (about twice a week).
3. Avoid fructose: The fructose contained in fruits is usually not a problem if the whole fruit is eaten. Tart cherries are even said to have a uric acid-lowering effect. But berries are also low in sugar. However, you should avoid dried fruits and agave syrup and especially finished products such as soft drinks where fructose is added as a sweetener. Because when fructose is broken down, uric acid is formed.
4. Drink enough: Two to three liters of water, unsweetened herbal and fruit teas and coffee are recommended. This enables more effective excretion of uric acid. Alcohol is considered critical because it stimulates the production of uric acid and at the same time inhibits its excretion via the kidneys. Even the non-alcoholic version of beer is thought to be the worst option because it itself contains purines.
5. Maintain a healthy body weight: This helps to protect the joints and, in combination with a healthy diet, lowers the uric acid concentration. However, you should refrain from radical fasting regimens. This is because so-called ketone bodies are created, which inhibit the excretion of uric acid. In addition, due to the rapid loss of body mass, purines are increasingly broken down and the uric acid concentration increases.
6. Dietary supplements after consultation with a doctor: A large study suggests that taking 500 to 1,500 mg of vitamin C daily can effectively protect against gout. Researchers suspect that this inhibits inflammatory processes and reduces uric acid concentrations. But it is important to pay attention to a healthy lifestyle. You should also consult your doctor before taking high-dose dietary supplements.
Conclusion: Diet and healthy lifestyle are crucial to prevent gout and other damage
A permanently elevated uric acid level has been proven to damage the joints, but also the vessels and internal organs. A gout attack is particularly painful, in which the uric acid crystals are broken down through a strong inflammatory reaction.
In order to keep uric acid so low that it can be completely excreted in the urine, you should eat a vegetarian diet that is low in fat and fructose. The so-called DASH diet, which aims to achieve a long-term change in diet, offers good guidance. In addition, high doses of vitamin C appear to effectively reduce uric acid after consultation with a doctor.