Gout - Pain in the foot

Pain in your foot

Gout

What is it?

Gout is a common type of arthritis characterized be acute onset of intense pain, typically involving the first joint of the big toe.  The pain can be speratic with periods without symptoms between acute attacks.

What causes it?

Elevated serum uric acid (the final breakdown product of purine – one of the units of DNA and RNA metabolism) level, deposited in and around the joints, kidneys, subcutanius tissue, bone, cartilage and other tissue of the body and causes considerable inflammation (please see blog on inflammation) and damage.

Dietary considerations:

·      Elimination of alcohol intake – increases uric acid production by accelerating purine breakdown.

·      Low Purine Diet – includes organ meats, meats, shellfish, yeast (brewers and bakers), herring, sardines, mackerel, and anchovies. 

·      Achievement of ideal body weight – via high fiber low fat diet.  Excess weight is associated with increased rate of gout

·      Liberal consumption of complex carbohydrates – Such as legumes, whole grains, and vegetables instead of simple sugars which increase uric acid production

·      Low fat intake - saturated fats decrease uric acid excretion.

·      Low protein intake – Protien intake should not exceed 0,8 g/kg of body weight as may accelerate uric acid synthesis, however, amino acids decrease reabsorption of uric acid in the renal  tubules, increasing uric acid excretion and reducing serum uric acid concentration.


    Liberal Fluid intake - Keeps the urine diluted and promotes the excretion of uric acid.  Drink at least 48 oz of water each day.


    In addition, liberal amounts of cherries, blueberries, and other anthocyanoside rich  (red-blue) berries or extracts should be consumed (0.5 - 1.0 pound per day).