Gout Daily News and Information

Gobble, Gobble: Important Tips for Managing Gout During Holiday Meals

Thanksgiving 2014 was a typical family gathering—overflowing with delicious food and joyful festivities. Yet, as I settled into a food coma, I couldn’t shake the anxiety creeping up behind the indulgence: What had I just done to myself?

As someone living with gout, these moments of overeating often leave me with that dreaded question: Was it worth it? With each bite, I know the risks—sudden flare-ups of excruciating pain that could have me confined to my bed for days. Is there any way to avoid this nightmare this time?

Gut Health and Uric Acid Connection

Gut health plays an important role in controlling gout, primarily because it influences how your body processes and excretes uric acid, which is the substance responsible for gout. Gout is a form of arthritis that occurs when uric acid builds up in the bloodstream and forms crystals in the joints, causing painful inflammation. The connection between gut health and gout is multi-faceted, involving digestion, inflammation, and even the balance of gut microbiota.

Here’s how gut health can influence gout control:

Is there a Global Gout Burden? Check out the latest study…..

According to a study published in The Lancet Rheumatology, gout cases are projected to increase by over 70% by 2050. This underscores the urgent need for effective management and prevention strategies.

To address both current and future demands, it is essential to analyze the burden of gout by age and sex and make future projections. Researchers used data from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) covering 1990 to 2020 to evaluate global, regional, and national prevalence trends and to predict future prevalence up to 2050.

How often you poop could suggest more than you think, study finds

By Kristen Rogers, CNN

5 minute read

Published 5:00 AM EDT, Tue July 23, 2024

How often you poop may influence more than whether you’re uncomfortably bloated. The frequency may also affect your gut microbiome and risk of chronic disease, a new study has found. Gut bacteria that digest fiber, for example, seemed to thrive in participants who pooped once or twice a day, according to the study published Monday in the journal Cell Reports Medicine. But bacteria associated with the upper gastrointestinal tract or protein fermentation were enriched in those with diarrhea or constipation, respectively.

Why are Microencapsulated Probiotics the only way to go?

Microencapsulated probiotics are considered highly advantageous due to their ability to address several key challenges associated with traditional probiotic formulations. Here’s why they are often seen as the “only way to go” for effective probiotic delivery:

1. Superior Protection and Viability

Protection from Environmental Factors: Traditional probiotics are susceptible to heat, moisture, and oxygen, which can degrade their viability during storage. Microencapsulation provides a protective barrier that shields probiotics from these harmful environmental conditions.
Stomach Acid and Bile Resistance: The encapsulating materials can protect probiotics from the acidic environment of the stomach and the bile salts in the intestine, significantly enhancing the survival rate of the probiotics as they transit through the digestive system.

Inflammation and Hydration: What is the connection?

Inflammation and hydration are interconnected aspects of health, and understanding their relationship can be crucial for managing various health conditions and maintaining overall well-being.

Inflammation

Inflammation is a natural and essential part of the body’s immune response. It helps the body to fight off infections, injuries, and toxins, and it plays a role in healing. There are two types of inflammation:

Occurrence of Gout in Rheumatoid Arthritis: It Does Happen!

A Population-Based Study

International Journal of Clinical Rheumatology

Adlene J Jebakumar; Prabhu D Udayakumar; Cynthia S Crowson; Eric L Matteson

Int J Clin Rheumatol. 2013;8(4):433-437

Discussion

The co-occurrence of gout and RA is rarely reported. In addition to the widespread belief that gout and RA do not, or rarely, coexist in the same patient, it can be difficult to clinically differentiate RA from polyarticular tophaceous gout especially when gout involves the hands. Only 33 cases with coexisting RA and gout have been reported in the English literature prior to this study. These include a report of eight cases of coexisting RA and gout between 1994 and 2005 at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital (Taiwan); this report also included the features of 24 previously reported similar cases in the English literature.^[8] A further case with coexisting chronic gout and RA was reported in 2007.^[9] Of these 33 previously reported cases, 23 had gout preceding the diagnosis of RA, whereas in our study, only six out of 22 patients had a diagnosis of gout prior to incidence of RA.^[8,9] All the previously reported cases of coexisting gout and RA had microscopic evidence of monosodium urate crystals in the synovial fluid or tophus. Rheumatoid factor was present in 24 out of the 33 previously reported cases compared with 14 out of 22 cases in our study. There was predominance of males, with 23 out of the 33 previously reported cases affecting men similar to our findings.^[8,9]

High Waist Circumference and Increased Lipid Levels Predictive of Unfavorable Gout Outcomes Over 2 Years

Hibah Khaja, PharmD | January 17, 2024

Anthropometric measures remained stable over a 2-year period among patients actively treated for gout, while lipid levels showed a decrease. After 2 years, high waist circumference and lipid levels were associated with unfavorable gout outcomes.

Anthropometric measures remained stable over a 2-year period among patients actively treated for gout, while lipid levels showed a decrease. After 2 years, high waist circumference (WC) and lipid levels were associated with unfavorable gout outcomes, according to study results published in Rheumatic & Musculoskeletal Diseases Open.

The Relationship between Thanksgiving and Gout

Thanksgiving is a holiday that is often associated with indulging in rich, flavorful foods, many of which are high in purines. Some of the high purine foods commonly consumed on Thanksgiving include: – Turkey (especially dark meat) – Gravy – Stuffing with meat or seafood – Shellfish (e.g. shrimp, crab, lobster) – Organ meats (e.g. liver, kidneys) While it may be tempting to indulge in these foods, can you afford to do so?

It is very tempting to take on the mindset of, “It’s only ONE day!” And this could be quite true and possible if you are adhering to a successful maintenance protocol. We will get into what that may look like for you a bit further into this article.

Managing Gout: Expert Tips for a Pain-Free Life

1. Introduction

Gout is a form of arthritis that can be quite debilitating, causing severe pain and inflammation in the joints. It is a condition that affects millions of people worldwide, and managing it effectively is crucial for a pain-free life. In recent years, there has been growing interest in brand marketing gout management products and services, with companies offering various solutions to alleviate symptoms and improve quality of life. This blog explores expert tips and strategies for managing gout, providing valuable insights and guidance for those seeking relief from this painful condition.