Animal Protein Intake Ups Gout Risk in Chinese Patients
A recent population based-study coming out of Singapore where they examined the long term data from the Singapore Chinese Health Study examined the link between protein intake and its sources in 63,257 Chinese adults suffering from gout ages 45 to 74. The researchers interviewed and provided questionnaires to the subjects over an average span of about 12 years. The Chinese main sources of protein are poultry, fish and shellfish/seafood but also includes red meat, pork and lamb. What the study found after examining the data was that the subjects who ate the most poultry in the highest percentiles compared to the lowest and the subjects who ate the most shellfish/seafood compared to the lowest had a higher prevalence to develop gout. In addition, those subjects who ate soy for protein intake and/or legumes (which are both plant based proteins) instead of meat in the highest percentiles compared to those at the lowest had a bigger decreased risk of developing gout.
What the researchers concluded was that the participants who developed gout during the study consumed much more total protein as in red meat, poultry, shellfish, pork, fish, lamb and beef compared to those who were not diagnosed with gout. They also stated that consumption of eggs, nuts, seeds and whole grains were not associated with an increased risk of gout. What I have been telling you all along my fellow gout sufferers! This is also the first potential study to show how soy foods and legumes can actually protect you against gout. What I have been saying and preaching to you all along as well!
Another interesting tidbit of information that the study uncovered was during the study some gout sufferers went on to develop another form of arthritis something that I’ve touched upon in other posts about rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis and osteoarthritis in this website. Although Chinese diet differs from a Western diet, protein intake is protein intake at the end, it don’t matter if you eat a hamburger in the US of A or a rabbit in Singapore.
If you consume too much animal based protein, you are at an increased risk of developing gout and for those gout sufferers that continue to eat lots of meat although they suffer from gout, their uric acid levels may increase higher and their gout may get worse. For more information on how to eat a proper gout diet, I strongly recommend you download my ebook Gout and You: The Ultimate Gout Diet & Cookbook where you can begin your lifestyle and diet change today and help you get started with many delicious recipes. What are you waiting for? Make that change today!