Consumption of sugar sweetened beverages increases risk of gout flares

Tehran, Iran: The consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) increases serum uric acid concentrations associated with gout flares, according to a recent study in the Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics.

The study was conducted due to the conflicting evidence on the association between SSB intake and serum uric acid concentrations. Other studies have shown that poor diet and obesity to be associated with exacerbation of pre-existing conditions that can lead to gout flares. 

In the systematic review and meta-analysis, S. Ebrahimpour‐koujan, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, and colleagues aimed to summarise earlier findings on the association between SSB consumption and serum uric acid concentrations in adults. Cross-sectional studies have shown that increased consumption of SSBs and fructose to be associated with increased serum uric acid levels.

The review was narrowed down to five cross-sectional studies published between 2007 and 2013. The number of participants ranged from 483 to 14 761 people and most controlled for age, body mass index, weight, and sex.

The mechanisms by which consumption of fructose-sweetened beverages may lead to increased hyperuricemia is not clear. Researchers suspect that fructose can produce uric acid by increasing the degradation of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) hydrolysis, which is involved in the production of uric acid. 

"We found that SSB consumption was significantly associated with increased serum uric acid concentrations in an adult population. However, this needs to be confirmed in follow-up studies," concluded the authors. 

The study, "Consumption of sugar‐sweetened beverages and serum uric acid concentrations: a systematic review and meta‐analysis," is published in the Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jhn.12796