Gout and Vitamin C? Yes Vitamin C is good for gout, but there's a small caution.Gout and Vitamin C ? Yes they are connected, and it's a good connection. That is, vitamin C is reckoned to lower uric acid levels somewhat. Recall that vitamins and drugs work in two ways to reduce uric acid levels. One is restricting its supply by inhibiting purine breakdown into uric acid, the other is improving uric acid’s breakdown into the urine. Vitamin C is thought to be a uric acid excretor, not an inhibitor. Improving excretion may be more important for you than reducing production. GOUT AND VITAMIN C STUDIES The connection between gout and Vitamin C has been the subject of a few studies over the past 30 years. They have concluded that Vitamin C will reduce the uric acid level, but have differed in the amount of Vitamin C given to study participants. A U.S. study of 184 non smokers, published in 2005 looked at the link between gout and Vitamin C. It concluded that the amount of Vitamin C required to achieve a serum (blood) uric acid level reduction was 500 mg daily. The Vitamin C was taken as a supplement. This is not a mega dose. Previously it has been thought that the amount needed was at least 4,000 mg (4 grams) daily. Dr Robert Atkins,(the Atkins diet), in another of his books, ‘Vita Nutrient Solutions,’ recommended 5,000 -10,000 mg as part of his formula natural remedy for gout. 0.5 mg/dL is a useful reduction but for most people probably not a natural remedy for gout, although the 0.5 mg/dL figure is an average and some participants did better. But a 0.5mg/dL reduction will not be enough to reduce uric acid below the 6.0 mg/dL level at which the MSU gout crystals may dissolve. However, when combined with other vitamins for gout, a low purine diet and the other natural remedies for gout described elsewhere on this website, it could be very useful. A caution Rapid changes in uric acid levels can trigger a gout attack. This rapid change can be brought about by many factors in addition to possibly mega doses of Vitamin C and by drugs such as probenecid and sulfinpyrazone. People who are susceptible to gout must consider these rapid changes. Such a rapid change concerned the authors of one study in the 1970’s who also examined the link between gout and Vitamin C. They recorded that mega doses of Vitamin C (4,000 mg and 8,000 mg daily) reduced uric acid levels significantly, and by more than in the 2005 study. i.e. the same conclusion as Dr. Robert Atkins. However, as far as Vitamin C induced changes in uric acid levels is concerned, this triggering has not been reported in any study. VITAMIN C AS A GOUT PREVENTOR If 500 mg daily of Vitamin C can reduce uric acid levels, then Vitamin C ought to act as a preventative gout vitamin too. A Taiwan study of males in the late 1990’s examined the weight, diet and lifestyles of gout and non gout patients in Taiwan. It concluded that Vitamin C, folic acid (folate) and fibre (fiber) were protective against gout. It also reached the well known and accepted conclusion that hypertension (high blood pressure) and obesity are risk factors for gout. And the study came to another, very different, conclusion from the conventional wisdom about purines – purine intake (but not alcohol intake) was not associated with a risk of gout. i.e. alcohol IS associated with a higher risk for gout but other purine foods and beverages are not. Alcohol generally is considered to be a high uric acid generating substance. Restricting purines in your diet is not difficult, so it’s still worth doing. Your uric acid level tests should tell if a low purine diet works for you. 1,000 MG PLUS DOSES If you wish to try Vitamin C for gout in doses over 1,000 mg as part of a natural gout remedy discuss it with your doctor, or a qualified naturopathic doctor. The 500 mg level is below the British government’s 1,000 mg (1 gram) recommended upper safety level safety limit for Vitamin C. It’s half of the maximum amount (1,000 mg) in a Vitamin C tablet sold in the U.S. and many other countries. To avoid excess acidity (lower pH) also take alkalizing minerals, or another alkalizing agent recommended by your doctor. Or take Ester-C or Buffered C versions of Vitamin C. And use Vitamin C products that have added flavonoids.
Of course try to eat more foods with high amounts of Vitamin C.
Our link which enables you to download the free National Nutrient database is on this page. Use this link to download the database itself or download a list of foods high in Vitamin C sorted by highest amount first downwards.
Click on this link to read back issues of the newsletter. If you can take delivery in the U.S. we recommend these Vitamin C products from Swanson Vitamins. Standard shipping within the U.S.$4.95 is on any size of order. They also ship internationally.For more details about Swanson shipping rates - click $4.95 shipping, top right corner of the swansonvitamins.com home page. The Buy buttons don't commit you, they take you to the product information. Note TR here means timed release...for better absorption.
This Vitamin C product has good amount of added bioflavonoids which enhance its activity in the body.
|
