According to research by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the active ingredients momordicoside, charantin and polypeptide-P in bitter melon promote the excretion of uric acid through the urine, while inhibiting the enzyme xanthine oxidase (XO) - the enzyme responsible for converting purines into uric acid.
A clinical trial published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology showed that people with mild uric acid increase who were supplemented with 300 ml of bitter melon juice per day for 4 weeks had an average reduction of 17% in uric acid levels, while reducing 22,2% of CRP inflammation (C-reactive protein) - a sign of metabolic inflammation.
This result confirms the role of bitter melon in regulating urate levels and reducing arthritis associated with gout.
Research in Renal Nutrition & Metabolism Journal shows that polyphenol compounds in bitter melon help reduce urate crystal deposition in kidney tissue by 25% and increase the activity of the endogenous antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD) by 19%.
This helps prevent kidney tissue fibrosis and improve natural urate filtering function.
According to the European Society for Clinical Nutrition, bitter melon helps increase insulin sensitivity and improve glucose metabolism, thereby indirectly reducing the accumulation of endogenous purines - the origin of uric acid formation.
Bitter melon not only helps reduce uric acid but also reduces accompanying risk factors such as obesity, dyslipidemia and fatty liver disorders, common conditions in people with gout or metabolic disorders.
According to the Mayo Clinic, to effectively reduce uric acid, fresh, simply prepared bitter melon should be used to preserve the bioactive.
You should drink fresh bitter melon juice: Drink 100-150 ml every morning (dilute 1:1 with warm water) to help purify the body and reduce uric acid in the blood.
Boiled or steamed bitter melon: Eating 3-4 slices per meal helps detoxify, while reducing the absorption of purines from red meat and seafood.
Dried bitter melon tea: Drinking 1-2 glasses/day helps maintain stable uric levels, suitable for people who cannot use fresh juice.
However, you should not drink more than 300 ml of juice/day or eat raw bitter melon continuously for more than 2 weeks because it can cause hypoglycemia or mild digestive disorders.
