Can people with high uric acid levels drink coffee?

According toStyleline,Uric acid is produced when chemical compounds called purines break down. When high blood uric acid levels occur, uric acid can deposit as crystals in the joints, causing swelling, pain, and inflammation (gout).

Dietary habits, such as excessive alcohol consumption and eating foods high in purines (red meat and shellfish) or fructose (sugar-coated drinks), can also lead to high levels of uric acid in the blood.

However, there is conflicting information about coffee. So, is coffee actually beneficial or harmful for people with high uric acid levels?

Research supports coffee.

Most scientific studies suggest that coffee may play a role in reducing the risk of gout. It contains many beneficial compounds, including minerals, polyphenols, and caffeine.

Coffee is believed to reduce the risk of gout by lowering uric acid levels through several mechanisms. Coffee may reduce uric acid levels by increasing the rate at which the body excretes uric acid.

Coffee is also thought to compete with the enzyme that breaks down purines in the body. This may slow down the rate at which uric acid is produced.

A recent review of this research showed that in many cases, coffee consumption was associated with reduced uric acid levels and less hyperuricemia.

In a Japanese study, researchers found that coffee consumption had an inverse relationship with uric acid levels. Those who drank the most coffee (around 5 cups per day) had the lowest uric acid levels among the study participants.

Although both coffee and tea were tested, these results appear to apply only to coffee.

This evidence suggests that compounds in coffee other than caffeine may play a role in lowering uric acid levels.

Another systematic review seems to support this idea. In this 2014 review, researchers refer to two studies on coffee and gout from the Third National Health and Nutrition Survey.

Researchers have found that coffee consumption is associated with reduced uric acid levels and a decreased risk of elevated uric acid.

Why might coffee be beneficial?

There are several reasons why coffee may have a protective effect against uric acid buildup. To understand why, we first need to understand how some gout medications work.

In the treatment of gout, doctors often prescribe xanthine oxidase inhibitors. Xanthine oxidase is an enzyme that helps the body metabolize purines. Since purines are a source of uric acid, inhibiting this enzyme can help maintain low uric acid levels.

Caffeine is considered a methylxanthine. Therefore, it can also compete with and potentially inhibit the activity of xanthine oxidase.

In addition, another type of medication that may be prescribed is uricosurics, which work by helping the kidneys remove uric acid from the body. While caffeine isn't necessarily considered a uricosuric, it can work in a similar way.

Research against coffee

Some researchers argue that there is insufficient evidence to support the idea that drinking coffee reduces the risk of gout.

In a systematic review, 11 studies were investigated regarding their effects on coffee consumption and serum uric acid levels. Researchers found that while there was evidence suggesting coffee consumption reduced the risk of gout, the results were not statistically significant.

Furthermore, one study showed a very different relationship between coffee consumption and serum uric acid levels. In that study, researchers found that uric acid levels increased during periods of coffee consumption and decreased during periods of non-coffee consumption.

Further research has also shown that genetic variations play a role in the relationship between coffee consumption and the risk of developing gout.

This study doesn't necessarily show a negative impact of coffee on the risk of gout. Instead, it suggests that the relationship between gout and coffee may be influenced by genetic factors.

Why can coffee be harmful?

There is little evidence to suggest that coffee consumption causes gout or increases the risk of gout flare-ups. While the majority of evidence supports the possibility that coffee consumption may reduce the risk of gout, further research is still possible.

In summary, most studies indicate that drinking coffee may reduce the risk of gout. If you already have gout, drinking coffee may help reduce the risk of flare-ups. This is because coffee can help reduce the uric acid your body produces. It can also improve your body's uric acid excretion process.

The study also indicated that decaffeinated tea and coffee do not have the same uric acid-lowering effect as coffee. Instead, the benefits appear to be most pronounced when drinking coffee regularly every day.

Adding a few spoonfuls of low-fat milk to your coffee can be an added benefit, but skip the sugar.