What Causes Gout?

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsMain CauseFood FactorsOther CausesRisk FactorsTreatmentHome RemediesPrevention

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Main Cause

Food Factors

Other Causes

Risk Factors

Treatment

Home Remedies

Prevention

Goutis a form of arthritis in which a substance in the body called uric acid builds up in the joints. Gout can flare up suddenly, causing severe pain. It occurs most often in the big toe, but it can also affect other toes, ankles, knees, and fingers, as well as other joints.

This article discusses what causes gout, factors that may put you at higher risk for it, what can trigger a flare, and treatments and lifestyle changes to help prevent flares and address pain and swelling.

Gout

What Is the Main Cause of Gout?

Gout is inflammatory, but it isnot an autoimmune disease, which are conditions in which the immune system mistakenly attacks its own tissues.Research has shown thatgout has a genetic componentinvolving genes that regulate uric acid levels in the body.

What Foods Cause Gout?

Foods high in purinesinclude:

What Else Causes Gout Flare-Ups?

Certain physical and mental health conditions can lead to higher uric acid levels, including:

Low-dose aspirin, certain diuretics (water pills), andniacinmay also be associated with a higher risk of developing gout.

Risk Factors for Gout

You may be more likely to develop gout if you have these risk factors:

Gout usually appears in middle age. It is diagnosed 2 to 6 times more often in men than women.The terms for sex or gender from the cited source are used.

How Gout Is Treated

Gout is treated with medication, lifestyle changes, and sometimes surgery. Without treatment, gout can eventually lead to gouty arthritis.

When you have a gout attack, you wantrelief quickly. The following medications may help:

If you have more than one gout attack per year or have tophi (uric acid deposits), a healthcare provider may prescribe medications to lower uric acid levels. These may include:

Other newer approaches to treatment include medications called inhibitors, which lower the activity of certain substances or reactions in the body. These include interleukin-1 inhibitors and other types still being developed.

Gout Home Remedies

There are steps you can take to relieve the pain and inflammation of gout. They include:

Some people may find a warm bath helps. You can also try topical NSAID pain relievers that you rub into the skin.

There is some preliminary evidence that supplements, including guava leaves, which may help lower uric acid levels, and cherry extract, which may help inflammation, but this has not been confirmed.

How to Prevent Gout

In addition to medications that a healthcare provider may recommend, lifestyle changes can help prevent the recurrence and progression of gout.

These include:

Summary

Foods that contain high purines or raise uric acid levels include certain meats, fish, alcoholic beverages, and foods containing high fructose corn syrup. Some medications can help treat or prevent flares. Icing and elevating the joint are two common home remedies. To prevent gout, avoid foods with high purine levels and stay at a healthy weight.

15 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.National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Gout.Arthritis Foundation.A new view on gout flares and treatments.Dalbeth N, Stamp LK, Merriman TR.The genetics of gout: towards personalised medicine?.BMC Med. 2017;15(1):108. doi:10.1186/s12916-017-0878-5University of Rochester Medical Center.Uric acid (blood).Arthritis Foundation.Which foods are safe for gout?Ragab G, Elshahaly M, Bardin T.Gout: An old disease in new perspective – a review.Journal of Advanced Research, 2017;8(5):495-511. doi:10.1016/j.jare.2017.04.008.Caliceti C, Calabria D, Roda A, Cicero A.Fructose intake, serum uric acid, and cardiometabolic disorders: a critical review.Nutrients. 2017;9(4):395. doi:10.3390/nu9040395Abhishek A, Valdes AM, Jenkins W, Zhang W, Doherty M.Triggers of acute attacks of gout, does age of gout onset matter? A primary care based cross-sectional study.PLOS ONE. 2017;12(10):e0186096. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0186096.Goodman AM, Wheelock MD, Harnett NG, Mrug S, Granger DA, Knight DC.The hippocampal response to psychosocial stress varies with salivary uric acid level.Neuroscience. 2016;339:396-401. doi:10.1016/j.neuroscience.2016.10.002.Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center.Treatment of gout.James R, Paul BJ.New and emerging therapies in gout.Rheumatology & Autoimmunity.2023;3(2):70-77. doi:10.1002/rai2.12064Irondi EA, Agboola SO, Oboh G, Boligon AA, Athayde ML, Shode FO.Guava leaves polyphenolics-rich extract inhibits vital enzymes implicated in gout and hypertension in vitro.J Intercult Ethnopharmacol. 2016;5(2):122-130. doi:10.5455/jice.20160321115402. (doi link faulty)Yang J, Li G, Xiong D, Chon TY, Bauer BA.The impact of natural product dietary supplements on patients with gout: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2020;2020:e7976130. doi:10.1155/2020/7976130.Biernatkaluza EK, Schlesinger N.Lemon juice reduces serum uric acid level via alkalization of urine in gouty and hyperuremic patients- a pilot study.Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. 2015;74(Suppl 2):774-774. doi:10.1136/annrheumdis-2015-eular.5147.Zhang Y, Yang T, Zeng C,et al.Is coffee consumption associated with a lower risk of hyperuricaemia or gout? A systematic review and meta-analysis.BMJ Open. 2016;6(7):e009809. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2015-009809.

15 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.National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Gout.Arthritis Foundation.A new view on gout flares and treatments.Dalbeth N, Stamp LK, Merriman TR.The genetics of gout: towards personalised medicine?.BMC Med. 2017;15(1):108. doi:10.1186/s12916-017-0878-5University of Rochester Medical Center.Uric acid (blood).Arthritis Foundation.Which foods are safe for gout?Ragab G, Elshahaly M, Bardin T.Gout: An old disease in new perspective – a review.Journal of Advanced Research, 2017;8(5):495-511. doi:10.1016/j.jare.2017.04.008.Caliceti C, Calabria D, Roda A, Cicero A.Fructose intake, serum uric acid, and cardiometabolic disorders: a critical review.Nutrients. 2017;9(4):395. doi:10.3390/nu9040395Abhishek A, Valdes AM, Jenkins W, Zhang W, Doherty M.Triggers of acute attacks of gout, does age of gout onset matter? A primary care based cross-sectional study.PLOS ONE. 2017;12(10):e0186096. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0186096.Goodman AM, Wheelock MD, Harnett NG, Mrug S, Granger DA, Knight DC.The hippocampal response to psychosocial stress varies with salivary uric acid level.Neuroscience. 2016;339:396-401. doi:10.1016/j.neuroscience.2016.10.002.Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center.Treatment of gout.James R, Paul BJ.New and emerging therapies in gout.Rheumatology & Autoimmunity.2023;3(2):70-77. doi:10.1002/rai2.12064Irondi EA, Agboola SO, Oboh G, Boligon AA, Athayde ML, Shode FO.Guava leaves polyphenolics-rich extract inhibits vital enzymes implicated in gout and hypertension in vitro.J Intercult Ethnopharmacol. 2016;5(2):122-130. doi:10.5455/jice.20160321115402. (doi link faulty)Yang J, Li G, Xiong D, Chon TY, Bauer BA.The impact of natural product dietary supplements on patients with gout: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2020;2020:e7976130. doi:10.1155/2020/7976130.Biernatkaluza EK, Schlesinger N.Lemon juice reduces serum uric acid level via alkalization of urine in gouty and hyperuremic patients- a pilot study.Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. 2015;74(Suppl 2):774-774. doi:10.1136/annrheumdis-2015-eular.5147.Zhang Y, Yang T, Zeng C,et al.Is coffee consumption associated with a lower risk of hyperuricaemia or gout? A systematic review and meta-analysis.BMJ Open. 2016;6(7):e009809. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2015-009809.

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.

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Gout.Arthritis Foundation.A new view on gout flares and treatments.Dalbeth N, Stamp LK, Merriman TR.The genetics of gout: towards personalised medicine?.BMC Med. 2017;15(1):108. doi:10.1186/s12916-017-0878-5University of Rochester Medical Center.Uric acid (blood).Arthritis Foundation.Which foods are safe for gout?Ragab G, Elshahaly M, Bardin T.Gout: An old disease in new perspective – a review.Journal of Advanced Research, 2017;8(5):495-511. doi:10.1016/j.jare.2017.04.008.Caliceti C, Calabria D, Roda A, Cicero A.Fructose intake, serum uric acid, and cardiometabolic disorders: a critical review.Nutrients. 2017;9(4):395. doi:10.3390/nu9040395Abhishek A, Valdes AM, Jenkins W, Zhang W, Doherty M.Triggers of acute attacks of gout, does age of gout onset matter? A primary care based cross-sectional study.PLOS ONE. 2017;12(10):e0186096. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0186096.Goodman AM, Wheelock MD, Harnett NG, Mrug S, Granger DA, Knight DC.The hippocampal response to psychosocial stress varies with salivary uric acid level.Neuroscience. 2016;339:396-401. doi:10.1016/j.neuroscience.2016.10.002.Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center.Treatment of gout.James R, Paul BJ.New and emerging therapies in gout.Rheumatology & Autoimmunity.2023;3(2):70-77. doi:10.1002/rai2.12064Irondi EA, Agboola SO, Oboh G, Boligon AA, Athayde ML, Shode FO.Guava leaves polyphenolics-rich extract inhibits vital enzymes implicated in gout and hypertension in vitro.J Intercult Ethnopharmacol. 2016;5(2):122-130. doi:10.5455/jice.20160321115402. (doi link faulty)Yang J, Li G, Xiong D, Chon TY, Bauer BA.The impact of natural product dietary supplements on patients with gout: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2020;2020:e7976130. doi:10.1155/2020/7976130.Biernatkaluza EK, Schlesinger N.Lemon juice reduces serum uric acid level via alkalization of urine in gouty and hyperuremic patients- a pilot study.Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. 2015;74(Suppl 2):774-774. doi:10.1136/annrheumdis-2015-eular.5147.Zhang Y, Yang T, Zeng C,et al.Is coffee consumption associated with a lower risk of hyperuricaemia or gout? A systematic review and meta-analysis.BMJ Open. 2016;6(7):e009809. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2015-009809.

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Gout.

Arthritis Foundation.A new view on gout flares and treatments.

Dalbeth N, Stamp LK, Merriman TR.The genetics of gout: towards personalised medicine?.BMC Med. 2017;15(1):108. doi:10.1186/s12916-017-0878-5

University of Rochester Medical Center.Uric acid (blood).

Arthritis Foundation.Which foods are safe for gout?

Ragab G, Elshahaly M, Bardin T.Gout: An old disease in new perspective – a review.Journal of Advanced Research, 2017;8(5):495-511. doi:10.1016/j.jare.2017.04.008.

Caliceti C, Calabria D, Roda A, Cicero A.Fructose intake, serum uric acid, and cardiometabolic disorders: a critical review.Nutrients. 2017;9(4):395. doi:10.3390/nu9040395

Abhishek A, Valdes AM, Jenkins W, Zhang W, Doherty M.Triggers of acute attacks of gout, does age of gout onset matter? A primary care based cross-sectional study.PLOS ONE. 2017;12(10):e0186096. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0186096.

Goodman AM, Wheelock MD, Harnett NG, Mrug S, Granger DA, Knight DC.The hippocampal response to psychosocial stress varies with salivary uric acid level.Neuroscience. 2016;339:396-401. doi:10.1016/j.neuroscience.2016.10.002.

Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center.Treatment of gout.

James R, Paul BJ.New and emerging therapies in gout.Rheumatology & Autoimmunity.2023;3(2):70-77. doi:10.1002/rai2.12064

Irondi EA, Agboola SO, Oboh G, Boligon AA, Athayde ML, Shode FO.Guava leaves polyphenolics-rich extract inhibits vital enzymes implicated in gout and hypertension in vitro.J Intercult Ethnopharmacol. 2016;5(2):122-130. doi:10.5455/jice.20160321115402. (doi link faulty)

Yang J, Li G, Xiong D, Chon TY, Bauer BA.The impact of natural product dietary supplements on patients with gout: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2020;2020:e7976130. doi:10.1155/2020/7976130.

Biernatkaluza EK, Schlesinger N.Lemon juice reduces serum uric acid level via alkalization of urine in gouty and hyperuremic patients- a pilot study.Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. 2015;74(Suppl 2):774-774. doi:10.1136/annrheumdis-2015-eular.5147.

Zhang Y, Yang T, Zeng C,et al.Is coffee consumption associated with a lower risk of hyperuricaemia or gout? A systematic review and meta-analysis.BMJ Open. 2016;6(7):e009809. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2015-009809.

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