Gout is caused by the build-up of excessive uric acid in the joints. Unfortunately, alcohol is a large contributor toward this buildup within the body. Research has shown two ways in which alcohol and gout causes you to be at increased risk of gout:
Alcohol and gout raises the levels of the nucleoside Adenosine-5-triphosphate (ATP) within the body that is converted into adenosine monophosphate (AMP). This creates the conditions where uric acid begins to accumulate.
Alcohol and gout can restrict the elimination of uric acid from the body. Alcohol is metabolized into lactic acid within the body. This lactic acid then has to be eliminated along with uric acid and therefore less uric acid ends up being eliminated, leaving more uric acid in the kidneys and in the body.
These researchers also discovered that simply drinking one alcoholic and gout beverage per day significantly raised the risk for an attack of gout in individuals. The risk grew for each drink consumed.
Gout and Beer: Does Drinking Beer Cause Gout?
Several studies have reported some interesting results regarding the link between alcohol and gout:
Compared to non-liquor drinkers, people who drank tow or more drinks of liquor each day were 1.6 times more likely to suffer from gout.
Compared to non-beer drinkers, those who consumed two or more beers per day were 2.5 times likely to suffer from symptoms of gout.
Wine was not linked to a greater risk of gout compared to those who did not consume wine.
Further findings were that the risk of gout symptoms grew with every drink consumed. For instance, the risk of gout went up by 49% with each serving of beer per day, while the risk of gout went increased by only 15% per serving of liquor each day. As liquor contains more alcohol than beer, the studies concluded that the non-alcoholic factor in beer was the real reason for the risk. This is to say that it is more likely due to lifestyle factors of the typical beer drinker that lead to the increased incidence of gout in these individuals -- i.e. a more sedentary lifestyle with consumption of more 'risky' foods and general dietary choices, as well as an increased tendency toward obesity.
Gout and Beer: Drink to Your Health
The best plan to avoid gout problems is to follow an exercise plan and healthy diet. Try to drink less than 3 alcoholic drinks per night, and don't let your drinking affect your diet and exercise plan. If you really have gout and need some support in keeping your uric acid levels under control, try natural supplementsthat maintain healthy uric acid levels within the body and can head a gout attack off at the pass.