This news will dampen some spirits: A new study reveals that certain alcoholic beverages may increase the risk of developing gout, a painful form of arthritis.
Men who drink alcohol at least five times a week are twice as likely to develop gout as those who drink less than once a week, according to Chinese researchers who analysed the drinking habits of more than 400,000 UK residents.
In women, more frequent alcohol consumption is associated with a “moderately elevated” risk of gout, according to findings published Wednesday in JAMA Network Open.
Gout is the most common form of inflammatory arthritis. It occurs when uric acid, a waste product, builds up in the joints. About 9.2 million American adults suffer from gout, and celebrities such as Jared Leto, Jim Belushi, and Sarah Hyland share their experiences.
“There are many risk factors for gout. Some risk factors are genetic. Some people have high uric acid levels and no matter what they do, they have a higher risk of developing gout,” Dr. Diane Horowitz, director of the Northwell Health Rheumatoid Arthritis Center, told the Post.
“Men have a higher risk of gout than women. Postmenopausal women have a higher risk than premenopausal women,” added Horowitz, who was not involved in the new study. “Dietary factors, alcohol consumption, genetics and gender are all associated with gout.”
It’s long been known that alcohol increases the risk of gout and can trigger recurring attacks. Researchers in the new study looked at the effect of different alcoholic beverages on gout risk in men and women.
Consumption of champagne, white wine, beer, cider and spirits was linked to a higher risk of gout in both sexes, with beer and cider showing the strongest association, the study found.
Spirits increased the risk of gout more in women, while red wine caused a “moderately higher” risk of gout in men.
“No significant associations were found for fortified wine in either sex,” the researchers wrote.
The study has some limitations, including that participants reported their alcohol consumption between 2006 and 2010. It is unclear how and whether their drinking habits changed over time.
Horowitz says gout can be managed through lifestyle changes, such as reducing alcohol consumption, limiting foods associated with gout, including red meat, organ meats and certain seafood, and drinking more water.
Additionally, there are medications to help prevent gout flare-ups.
“If someone thinks they have gout or has had gout attacks in the past, they need to see their primary care physician or a rheumatologist and get help to prevent future attacks and repeat attacks,” Horowitz said. “Aggravations can damage bones, so you really need to take control of the situation and prevent attacks.”
