Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHelpful DietsManaging ConditionsDecreasing Uric AcidTarget Range
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Helpful Diets
Managing Conditions
Decreasing Uric Acid
Target Range
While many people take medication to manage gout symptoms, lifestyle modifications like following a low-purine diet, the DASH diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension diet), regular exercise, and managing other conditions can help reduce flare-ups and lower uric acid.
Read on to learn more about ways to reduce uric acid through diet, lifestyle modifications, monitoring, management of other conditions, and more.
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How to Reduce Uric Acid Levels Through Diet
Uric acid is a waste product produced in the body from the breakdown (metabolism) of purines. Purines are normally produced in the body and found in certain foods and drinks.
It is normal to have some uric acid in the blood. The kidneys filter it, and it is excreted via urine. But if levels become too high or the kidneys cannot remove enough of it, urate crystals can settle into a joint and cause gout.
Gout causes pain, swelling, and redness or skin discoloration. People with certain conditions, such as diabetes, kidney disease, and obesity, are at increased risk of getting gout.People assigned male at birth or who have a family history of gout are also at increased risk.
In addition, foods rich in purines (such as red meat and seafood), high alcohol consumption, and drugs like diuretics (water pills) and immunosuppressants (suppress the immune system when it is overactive) raise the risk of getting gout.High levels of uric acidcan also increase the risk of kidney stones.
Lifestyle modifications can reduce your levels of uric acid. These include:
Eat More Low-Purine Foods
Vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and low-fat dairy products are recommended foods to eat when uric acid levels are high.Exceptions are oats, wheat bran, asparagus, cauliflower, mushrooms, and spinach, which are considered higher in purines and may need to be limited.
Some research specifically highlights the benefits of bananas and cherries for lowering uric acid.
Drink Right
Alcohol and sweetened beverages like soda can increase uric acid levels in the blood and should be avoided.Beverages sweetened with fructose or high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) can make it difficult for uric acid to be excreted through the kidneys.
Drinking adequate amounts of water is important for diluting urine; it reduces the concentration of waste products. You will want to drink enough fluids so that your urine is pale yellow in color.
The National Kidney Foundation suggests mixing lemon juice concentrate (4 ounces per day) with water. Lemon juice contains citric acid, which may help to prevent uric acid stones.
Eat Fewer High-Purine Foods
The extent to which you need to limit your intake of high-purine foods will depend on your uric acid level. Nutrition interventions can vary depending on whether you are experiencing a flare-up or are in remission.Always get individualized recommendations from a healthcare provider or registered dietitian.
Foods high in purines include:
High intakes of red meat and seafood are associated with an increased risk of gout in adults, as are alcohol consumption and high intakes of fructose in the form of sugar-sweetened beverages.Animal products, except low-fat dairy and eggs, should be limited during an acute flare-up.
The DASH Diet
Avoiding or limiting foods that are high in purinescan reduce the risk of gout. However, this is not the only way to manage the condition. In addition, theDASH dietis associated with a lower risk of developing gout in a prospective cohort study of men during 26 years of follow-up.
With the DASH diet, red and processed meat, sugary foods, sweetened soda, and sodium (salt) are limited. The DASH diet includes:
Foods high in fiber, vitamin C, and flavonoids (found in plants like fruits and vegetables) can block uric acid production.
Compared to the traditional Western diet, which is high in animal protein, the DASH diet promotes lower levels of uric acid. The DASH diet was created as a way of reducing high blood pressure, and maintaining normal blood pressure is important in lowering uric acid levels.
Herbs
How to Reduce Uric Acid With a Diagnosed Condition
Evidence suggests that high levels of uric acid play a role in metabolic disorders, such as:
The relationship appears to be bidirectional, as studies suggest that lowering uric acid can be a factor in improving metabolic syndrome.
Adopting a healthier lifestyle, such as eating a nutritious, high-fiber diet and regular exercise, can help lower uric acid and improve symptoms of metabolic syndrome, such as high triglycerides, high blood pressure, and high blood sugar.
Medications may also be needed to reduce uric acid and manage pain associated with gout and uric acid stones. The decision to use medication will depend on how high your levels of uric acid are, if you have frequent gout attacks and/or kidney stones and if lifestyle interventions are not enough.
Medications for goutinclude:
The purpose of medications is to lower uric acid and manage pain and swelling during flares.
These drugs include:
If you are concerned that your medication is increasing your levels of uric acid, speak to your medical provider.
WeightA healthy body weight can help you prevent uric acid stones, like kidney stones. Having excess weight is just one risk factor for kidney stones.If you are having trouble with your weight, reach out to your healthcare provider. A registered dietitian can assist you in customizing an eating plan that fits your lifestyle and nutrition goals and helps you maintain the pleasure of eating.
Weight
A healthy body weight can help you prevent uric acid stones, like kidney stones. Having excess weight is just one risk factor for kidney stones.If you are having trouble with your weight, reach out to your healthcare provider. A registered dietitian can assist you in customizing an eating plan that fits your lifestyle and nutrition goals and helps you maintain the pleasure of eating.
A healthy body weight can help you prevent uric acid stones, like kidney stones. Having excess weight is just one risk factor for kidney stones.
If you are having trouble with your weight, reach out to your healthcare provider. A registered dietitian can assist you in customizing an eating plan that fits your lifestyle and nutrition goals and helps you maintain the pleasure of eating.
How Long Before Uric Acid Levels Decrease?
The rate at which uric acid levels will decrease will depend on the starting level and the type of intervention. Results are individualized and will vary from person to person. If you are taking medication, your healthcare provider may want to retest your levels in a few months. Ask your healthcare provider what you should expect.
Target Range With High Uric Acid Levels
Normal value ranges can vary slightly between laboratories. Normal values range between 3.5 to 7.2 milligrams per deciliter of blood (mg/dL).Levels above 7.2 are considered high, but not everyone who has a high level has gout.
To dissolve or prevent crystals in gout, it is advised to lower uric acid levels to 6 mg/dL or lower.Talk to your provider about what level is best for you.
Summary
Lowering uric acid levels is important for people with a history of gout or kidney stones. To achieve your goal, you may need a combination of medicine and lifestyle modifications. Making changes to your diet and exercise regimen can help.
Additionally, managing other conditions is important for lowering uric acid levels and overall health. If you are having trouble or are confused about what treatment regimen is best for you, talk to your medical provider.
14 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Gout.MedlinePlus.Uric acid-blood.Klemm S and Gordan B.Gout. Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.Kumar B, Lenert P.Gout and African Americans: reducing disparities.Cleve Clin J Med. 2016;83(9):665-74. doi:10.3949/ccjm.83aNational Kidney Foundation.Uric acid stones.Chen PE, Liu CY, Chien WH, et al.Effectiveness of cherries in reducing uric acid and gout: a systematic review.Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2019;2019:9896757. doi:10.1155/2019/9896757American Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.Is a purine restricted diet still recommended for gout?Rai SK, Fung TT, Lu N, Keller SF, Curhan GC, Choi HK.The dietary approaches to stop hypertension (DASH) diet, Western diet, and risk of gout in men: prospective cohort study.BMJ.2017;357:j1794. doi: 10.1136/bmj.j1794Wang Y, Lu J.The management of diabetes with hyperuricemia: can we hit two birds with one stone?J Inflamm Res.2023;16:6431-6441. doi: 10.2147/JIR.S433438Clebak K, Morisson A, and Croad J.Gout: rapid evidence review.Am Fam Physician.2020;102(9):533-538.Raya-Cano, E., Vaquero-Abellán, M., Molina-Luque, R.et al.Association between metabolic syndrome and uric acid: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Sci Rep.2022;12:18412. doi:10.1038/s41598-022-22025-2Paley C, Johnson M.Abdominal obesity and metabolic syndrome: Exercise as medicine?BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil. 2018;10(7). doi:10.1186/s13102-018-0097-1Ben Salem C, Slim R, Fathallah N, Hmouda H.Drug-induced hyperuricaemia and gout.Rheumatology (Oxford).2017;56(5):679-688. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/kew293.Vargas-Santos AB, Neogi T.Management of gout and hyperuricemia in CKD.Am J Kidney Dis. 2017;70(3):422-439. doi:10.1053/j.ajkd.2017.01.055
14 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Gout.MedlinePlus.Uric acid-blood.Klemm S and Gordan B.Gout. Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.Kumar B, Lenert P.Gout and African Americans: reducing disparities.Cleve Clin J Med. 2016;83(9):665-74. doi:10.3949/ccjm.83aNational Kidney Foundation.Uric acid stones.Chen PE, Liu CY, Chien WH, et al.Effectiveness of cherries in reducing uric acid and gout: a systematic review.Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2019;2019:9896757. doi:10.1155/2019/9896757American Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.Is a purine restricted diet still recommended for gout?Rai SK, Fung TT, Lu N, Keller SF, Curhan GC, Choi HK.The dietary approaches to stop hypertension (DASH) diet, Western diet, and risk of gout in men: prospective cohort study.BMJ.2017;357:j1794. doi: 10.1136/bmj.j1794Wang Y, Lu J.The management of diabetes with hyperuricemia: can we hit two birds with one stone?J Inflamm Res.2023;16:6431-6441. doi: 10.2147/JIR.S433438Clebak K, Morisson A, and Croad J.Gout: rapid evidence review.Am Fam Physician.2020;102(9):533-538.Raya-Cano, E., Vaquero-Abellán, M., Molina-Luque, R.et al.Association between metabolic syndrome and uric acid: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Sci Rep.2022;12:18412. doi:10.1038/s41598-022-22025-2Paley C, Johnson M.Abdominal obesity and metabolic syndrome: Exercise as medicine?BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil. 2018;10(7). doi:10.1186/s13102-018-0097-1Ben Salem C, Slim R, Fathallah N, Hmouda H.Drug-induced hyperuricaemia and gout.Rheumatology (Oxford).2017;56(5):679-688. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/kew293.Vargas-Santos AB, Neogi T.Management of gout and hyperuricemia in CKD.Am J Kidney Dis. 2017;70(3):422-439. doi:10.1053/j.ajkd.2017.01.055
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
MedlinePlus.Gout.MedlinePlus.Uric acid-blood.Klemm S and Gordan B.Gout. Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.Kumar B, Lenert P.Gout and African Americans: reducing disparities.Cleve Clin J Med. 2016;83(9):665-74. doi:10.3949/ccjm.83aNational Kidney Foundation.Uric acid stones.Chen PE, Liu CY, Chien WH, et al.Effectiveness of cherries in reducing uric acid and gout: a systematic review.Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2019;2019:9896757. doi:10.1155/2019/9896757American Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.Is a purine restricted diet still recommended for gout?Rai SK, Fung TT, Lu N, Keller SF, Curhan GC, Choi HK.The dietary approaches to stop hypertension (DASH) diet, Western diet, and risk of gout in men: prospective cohort study.BMJ.2017;357:j1794. doi: 10.1136/bmj.j1794Wang Y, Lu J.The management of diabetes with hyperuricemia: can we hit two birds with one stone?J Inflamm Res.2023;16:6431-6441. doi: 10.2147/JIR.S433438Clebak K, Morisson A, and Croad J.Gout: rapid evidence review.Am Fam Physician.2020;102(9):533-538.Raya-Cano, E., Vaquero-Abellán, M., Molina-Luque, R.et al.Association between metabolic syndrome and uric acid: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Sci Rep.2022;12:18412. doi:10.1038/s41598-022-22025-2Paley C, Johnson M.Abdominal obesity and metabolic syndrome: Exercise as medicine?BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil. 2018;10(7). doi:10.1186/s13102-018-0097-1Ben Salem C, Slim R, Fathallah N, Hmouda H.Drug-induced hyperuricaemia and gout.Rheumatology (Oxford).2017;56(5):679-688. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/kew293.Vargas-Santos AB, Neogi T.Management of gout and hyperuricemia in CKD.Am J Kidney Dis. 2017;70(3):422-439. doi:10.1053/j.ajkd.2017.01.055
MedlinePlus.Gout.
MedlinePlus.Uric acid-blood.
Klemm S and Gordan B.Gout. Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
Kumar B, Lenert P.Gout and African Americans: reducing disparities.Cleve Clin J Med. 2016;83(9):665-74. doi:10.3949/ccjm.83a
National Kidney Foundation.Uric acid stones.
Chen PE, Liu CY, Chien WH, et al.Effectiveness of cherries in reducing uric acid and gout: a systematic review.Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2019;2019:9896757. doi:10.1155/2019/9896757
American Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.Is a purine restricted diet still recommended for gout?
Rai SK, Fung TT, Lu N, Keller SF, Curhan GC, Choi HK.The dietary approaches to stop hypertension (DASH) diet, Western diet, and risk of gout in men: prospective cohort study.BMJ.2017;357:j1794. doi: 10.1136/bmj.j1794
Wang Y, Lu J.The management of diabetes with hyperuricemia: can we hit two birds with one stone?J Inflamm Res.2023;16:6431-6441. doi: 10.2147/JIR.S433438
Clebak K, Morisson A, and Croad J.Gout: rapid evidence review.Am Fam Physician.2020;102(9):533-538.
Raya-Cano, E., Vaquero-Abellán, M., Molina-Luque, R.et al.Association between metabolic syndrome and uric acid: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Sci Rep.2022;12:18412. doi:10.1038/s41598-022-22025-2
Paley C, Johnson M.Abdominal obesity and metabolic syndrome: Exercise as medicine?BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil. 2018;10(7). doi:10.1186/s13102-018-0097-1
Ben Salem C, Slim R, Fathallah N, Hmouda H.Drug-induced hyperuricaemia and gout.Rheumatology (Oxford).2017;56(5):679-688. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/kew293.
Vargas-Santos AB, Neogi T.Management of gout and hyperuricemia in CKD.Am J Kidney Dis. 2017;70(3):422-439. doi:10.1053/j.ajkd.2017.01.055
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