The Link between Gout and Metabolic Syndrome
Metabolic syndrome is quite common and the numbers are growing not only in North America but worldwide. An estimated 50 million Americans or 1 out of 6 have a form of metabolic syndrome and 40% of people aged 60 and over are affected by it. Metabolic syndrome is is when your metabolism no longer works properly and is defined when any three of the following traits are present at the same time in the same individual. It’s simply a cluster of biochemical and physiological abnormalities and they include:
- The main one being weight gain around the abdomen having a waist circumference of more than 40 inches in men and about 35 inches in women.
- HDL cholesterol of 40 mg/dl or lower in men and 50 mg/dl or lower in women.
- High blood pressure of 135/85 or more
- Serum triglycerides which are the main ingredient in animal fat and vegetable oils and are the most common form of fat that we digest in the body. They should not be over 150 mg/dl.
- Blood glucose levels of over 100 mg/dl
Remember that metabolic syndrome is not a disease in itself, it is a group of these risk factors. If you suffer from metabolic syndrome then you are at an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Now the connection it has with gout is that high levels of uric acid in the blood has been found to be a key factor in causing metabolic syndrome. High uric acid levels basically disrupts normal metabolism. Now there are many studies that confirm that gout is part of the metabolic syndrome and surprise, surprise; the findings from different studies all confirm that the prevalence of metabolic syndrome is pretty high in gout sufferers. It is pretty high as well with those who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis.
But what these researchers are finding is that sugar/fructose plays a big role in metabolic syndrome just as it does in gout. Let’s examine the link. In a popular H.K Choi study that I have cited in previous posts, states that soft drinks or any fructose consumption raises the risk of gout. Did you know that fructose is the only carbohydrate known to increase uric acid levels? So higher uric acid levels coming from fructose consumption may lead to gout and metabolic syndrome. Double whammy right?
Adopting a low sugar/fructose diet is important for gout sufferers and those that also suffer from metabolic syndrome. I always advocated that you should not consume more than 25 grams of sugar a day. If you are disease free then you can consume up to 50 grams a day but since we suffer from gout and are more sensitive to fructose keep a limit of 25 grams daily please.
You don’t want to risk developing other diseases on top of gout. You can avoid metabolic syndrome rather easily. Eat properly and exercise. There is a study that those that live a sedentary life are at the highest risk of developing metabolic syndrome but then again, if you don’t move much you at an increased risk to develop everything else too! So get off the couch turn off the TV or Xbox and move your body. That’s it for today folks!
9 replies to "Gout and Metabolic Syndrome"
Hi Lena
Read this. I am using sulforaphane on myself with dramatic effects. Get mine from super sprouts – not all the Sprout Powder processing ends up have sulforaphane available
I came across this while researching for my 13yr old with autism, have thought for a long time his outbursts were pain and arthritic in nature. Laughed at by doctors of course but a couple of days on uridine (breaks down uric acid) and he is smiling all the time (first time in many years). I am waiting on the capsule form to come – when you smell this stuff you will realise why.
https://www.clinicaleducation.org/resources/reviews/nrf2-inducers-as-an-approach-to-addressing-the-metabolic-syndrome/
Unfortunately I am afflicted with gout.
Eliminated purine rich foods from my diet and drank apple cider vinegar. I found out by accident that food was not the culprit. It was actually a steroid asthma med that slowed my metabolism, increased upper body fat and impaired liver functions (lesser known side effects that I was unaware of)
I say I found out by accident because when the flare up stopped I thought it was due to me eating all the right things at the same time, I was out of my RX.
When the flares ups came back, common sense told me the only thing I put in my body was my asthma meds. So I agree that gout is affected by metabolism. At this point I have no idea how to increase and restore my metabolisn and heal my worn out liver. My asthma is severe so intentionally skipping my med comes with its own risk. P.S. Thank you for your article
Hi Lena!
Good dieting along with dietary supplements that help cleanse the liver and kidneys. Think milk thistle, garlic, chanca piedra and my proprietary formulation NutriGout is meant to provide the right nutrients to maintain a healthy liver and kidneys.
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I have seen a lot about gout and it’s link to insulin resistance syndrome, one study even looked at the stats showing that 72-96% of gout sufferers had signs of IRS based on this and other evidence a study in 2005 was conducted using a IRS diet 40% carbs(complex) 30% fats and 30% protein(no restriction on type) . All were gout sufferers all had had multiple flair ups in the months previous. All had a significant reduction in the UA, and increase in UA output in urine, weight loss, and reduction in flairs ups. More and more I am seeing that the focus on purines is not the way to go and the retention of uric acid is not the culprit but a symptom. a rose scott has written about the new gout diet and the purine myth, the wahls diet and the fasting diet touch on some of these ideas. Plus the large number of members on other sites who have UA’s under 6 for years and still get flair ups. Just ideas for your future research