Could Vitamin C Help Reduce Gout?
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Could taking vitamin C help reduce the chances of developing gout? A new study sheds light on this possibility. Gout is a form of inflammatory arthritis that has been on the rise in the US in recent decades. Considered a lifestyle disease, some research has shown that instances of the condition have more than doubled in recent years as rates of obesity have skyrocketed. It's caused by uric acid in the blood that builds up and crystalizes in the joints. Flare-ups are so intense that the joints can turn a cherry red and vibrate with intense — and sometimes seemingly intolerable — pain.
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@onea Gout can cause flare-ups that vary in frequency and severity; but sometimes when people aren't experiencing them, they're less likely to stay on top of their medications. That's why lifestyle interventions are seen as particularly relevant to a disease like gout. Vitamin C, for example, has few side effects, and for those with higher levels of uric acid in the blood, it could reduce the likelihood of getting the condition. A recent study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that people who were given 500 milligrams of vitamin C versus a placebo had a 12% reduced risk of getting gout. The study of over 14,000 male doctors showed that men who weren't overweight had the most significant reduction in the risk of getting the condition.