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| Gout surge blamed on sweet drinks | Gout surge blamed on sweet drinks |
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| Sugary drinks have been blamed for a surge in cases of the painful joint disease gout. | Sugary drinks have been blamed for a surge in cases of the painful joint disease gout. |
| Men who consume two or more sugary soft drinks a day have an 85% higher risk of gout compared with those who drink less than one a month, a study suggests. | Men who consume two or more sugary soft drinks a day have an 85% higher risk of gout compared with those who drink less than one a month, a study suggests. |
| Cases in the US have doubled in recent decades and it seems fructose, a type of sugar, may be to blame, the British Medical Journal study reports. | Cases in the US have doubled in recent decades and it seems fructose, a type of sugar, may be to blame, the British Medical Journal study reports. |
| UK experts said those with gout would be advised to cut out sugary drinks. | UK experts said those with gout would be advised to cut out sugary drinks. |
| About 1.5% of the UK population currently suffers from gout and there has been an increase in numbers over the last 30 years - although the condition is more associated with Victorian times. | About 1.5% of the UK population currently suffers from gout and there has been an increase in numbers over the last 30 years - although the condition is more associated with Victorian times. |
| I will certainly change my advice to patients and I suspect the number drinking fructose is quite large Dr Andrew Bamji | I will certainly change my advice to patients and I suspect the number drinking fructose is quite large Dr Andrew Bamji |
| The symptoms of painful, swollen joints, mainly in the lower limbs, are caused when uric acid crystallises out of the blood into the joints. | The symptoms of painful, swollen joints, mainly in the lower limbs, are caused when uric acid crystallises out of the blood into the joints. |
| US and Canadian researchers said the increase in cases had coincided with a substantial rise in the consumption of soft drinks. | US and Canadian researchers said the increase in cases had coincided with a substantial rise in the consumption of soft drinks. |
| Previous research had also shown that fructose increases levels of uric acid in the bloodstream. | Previous research had also shown that fructose increases levels of uric acid in the bloodstream. |
| Diet | Diet |
| To look in more detail, the team carried out a 12-year study of 46,000 men aged 40 years and over with no history of gout, asking them regular questionnaires about their diet. | To look in more detail, the team carried out a 12-year study of 46,000 men aged 40 years and over with no history of gout, asking them regular questionnaires about their diet. |
| Over the period, 755 newly diagnosed cases of gout were reported. | Over the period, 755 newly diagnosed cases of gout were reported. |
| The risk of developing the condition was significantly increased with an intake level of five to six servings of sugary soft drink per week. | The risk of developing the condition was significantly increased with an intake level of five to six servings of sugary soft drink per week. |
| This link was independent of other risk factors for gout such as body mass index, age, high blood pressure and alcohol intake. | |
| Diet soft drinks did not increase the risk of gout but fruit juice and fructose rich fruits (apples and oranges) were associated with a higher risk, the researchers said. | Diet soft drinks did not increase the risk of gout but fruit juice and fructose rich fruits (apples and oranges) were associated with a higher risk, the researchers said. |
| But this finding needs to be balanced against the benefit of fruit and vegetables in preventing other chronic disorders like heart disease and stroke. | But this finding needs to be balanced against the benefit of fruit and vegetables in preventing other chronic disorders like heart disease and stroke. |
| Dr Hyon Choi, from the University of British Columbia, in Vancouver said dietary advice for gout had focused on restricting purine-rich foods, such as red meat and beer. | Dr Hyon Choi, from the University of British Columbia, in Vancouver said dietary advice for gout had focused on restricting purine-rich foods, such as red meat and beer. |
| He said practitioners should advise patients with gout to reduce their fructose intake. | He said practitioners should advise patients with gout to reduce their fructose intake. |
| "I can think of some situations, for example in severe treatment failure gout, where reducing sweet fruits, such as oranges and apples could help," he added. | "I can think of some situations, for example in severe treatment failure gout, where reducing sweet fruits, such as oranges and apples could help," he added. |
| Dr Andrew Bamji, president of the British Society for Rheumatology, said anecdotally cases of gout appeared to be rising. | |
| "When you think about it, it makes a lot of sense in that fructose inhibits the excretion of uric acid. | "When you think about it, it makes a lot of sense in that fructose inhibits the excretion of uric acid. |
| "I will certainly change my advice to patients and I suspect the number drinking fructose is quite large." | "I will certainly change my advice to patients and I suspect the number drinking fructose is quite large." |