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Fizzy drinks increase gout risk7 February 2008
Arthritis Care Regularly drinking sugary, fizzy drinks could increase your risk of developing gout, new research suggests. The study of more than 46,000 men revealed that those who drank two or more sweetened soft drinks a day were 85 percent more likely to get gout than men who had less than one sugary drink a month. Just five to six sugary drinks a week was enough to significantly increase risk. According to the researchers from the US and Canada, the substance responsible is fructose - a type of sugar that occurs naturally in fruits but which is also added as a sweetener to fizzy drinks and other processed foods. Gout causes severe pain and swelling in the joints, most often in the big toe, but also in the knees, ankles and other joints. It happens when uric acid - normally a waste product of the body, accumulates in the joints. People with gout have long been advised to avoid foods and drinks high in a substance called purine, including red meat (especially liver and kidneys) and beer. However, the link between gout and sugary drinks has never been identified before. Furthermore, it's not just fizzy drinks that appear to increase the risk of gout; the study also showed that orange juice and other fruit juices have a similar effect. Eating an apple or an orange once a day also put men at a 64 percent greater risk of gout than men who ate less than one apple or orange a month. The authors of the study, published last week in the BMJ, stress that this doesn't mean you should avoid all fruit and vegetables if you have gout - rather that the risks of certain fruits need to be balanced against their clear health benefits. It's hoped that the findings will help people with gout manage their symptoms. A spokesperson for Arthritis Care explained: "It is essential for people with conditions like gout to have access to good quality and up-to-date information to help them manage their own health. "It is well documented that there is a link between diet and gout, therefore Arthritis Care welcomes any research which increases our understanding of the factors at work." It’s important to note that fructose levels in fizzy drinks vary between different countries. In the US, where this study was conducted, the fructose levels in fizzy drinks are higher than those seen in the UK. This means that fizzy drinks in the UK may have a smaller impact on the risk of gout than in the US. Related informationFurther information
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It is essential for people with conditions like gout to have access to good quality and up-to-date information to help them manage their own health. 
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