Plant-rich DASH diet linked to lower risk of gout

DASH diet linked to reduced risk of gout in menThe researchers gave each participant a score that reflected how closely their diet matched the DASH one (the DASH score), and another score that reflected how closely they followed the Western diet (the Western pattern score). However, what they can say is that it does not contradict the idea, and they conclude:"The DASH diet is associated with a lower risk of gout, suggesting that its effect of lowering uric acid levels in individuals with hyperuricemia translates to a lower risk of gout. The DASH diet may provide an attractive preventive dietary approach for men at risk of gout." The authors explain that as their study was observational, it is not possible to draw conclusions about whether the DASH diet causes the reduction in gout risk. Conversely, the Western diet is associated with a higher risk of gout.

Anti-hypertension DASH diet may reduce the risk of gout

Explore further: Blood pressure diet may help prevent gout flaresMore information: The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet, Western diet, and risk of gout in men: prospective cohort study, BMJ, DOI: 10.1136/bmj.j1794 The only group that probably should be careful with the DASH diet would be patients with severe kidney disease, since the diet can be high in potassium. Credit: CC0 Public Domain The results of a study led by Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) investigators suggest that following a diet known to reduce the risk of hypertension and cardiovascular disease may also reduce the risk of gout. Controlling for other gout risk factors - such as age, weight, hypertension, kidney failure and intake of alcohol or coffee - did not alter the associations. Individuals with a higher DASH score were less likely to be diagnosed with gout, while the risk was increased in those with an elevated Western diet score.


The DASH diet may provide an attractive preventive dietary approach for men at risk of gout." The researchers gave each participant a score that reflected how closely their diet matched the DASH one (the DASH score), and another score that reflected how closely they followed the Western diet (the Western pattern score). Conversely, the Western diet is associated with a higher risk of gout. The authors explain that as their study was observational, it is not possible to draw conclusions about whether the DASH diet causes the reduction in gout risk. However, what they can say is that it does not contradict the idea, and they conclude: "The DASH diet is associated with a lower risk of gout, suggesting that its effect of lowering uric acid levels in individuals with hyperuricemia translates to a lower risk of gout.


collected by :Lucy William