According to the Nutrition Guidelines for Treatment of Hyperuricemia and Gout in Adults (2024) of the National Health Commission of China, patients need to build a diverse diet, control foods rich in purines, fructose and alcohol instead of extreme abstinence.
Increased uric acid in the blood currently affects about 14% of adults in China, while the rate of gout is about 0.86-2.20%. The disease tends to increase and rejuvenate, closely related to a high-energy diet, excessive use of alcohol, high-fructose drinks and overweight and obesity.
According to the instructions, patients should maintain 5 nutritional principles.
First, eat diversely and control purines. You should use many food groups every day, prioritizing whole grains, green vegetables, fruits, milk, eggs and lean meat in appropriate amounts. Animal organs such as liver, kidneys, and heart contain a lot of purines, so limit them to the maximum. In contrast, eggs and milk have low purine content. Soybeans and bean products such as tofu and dried tofu can be used in moderation.
Second, increase green vegetables, milk and limit fructose sugar. Patients should eat at least 500 g of vegetables per day, of which dark-colored vegetables account for more than half. Can use about 300 ml of milk or dairy products per day. Fruits should be eaten about 200-350 g/day, and limit foods and drinks high in fructose.
Third, drink enough water and limit alcohol. If there are no heart or kidney diseases, it is necessary to limit the amount of water, patients can drink about 2,000-3,000 ml of water per day, prioritizing filtered water. Alcohol increases the risk of increased uric acid and acute gout attacks, so it is necessary to limit it.
Fourth, process simple foods. You should reduce salt, grease, limit fried and deep broth. For meat dishes, you can boil or blanch and should not drink boiled water or broth.
Fifth, maintain a reasonable weight. Overweight and obesity increase the risk of increased uric acid and gout. Patients should combine energy control with regular exercise, suitable for physical condition.
In addition, the diet needs to be adjusted according to physical condition, pathology and season. Gout patients should avoid getting cold, especially during the transitional season, because low temperatures can increase the risk of acute gout attacks.
Controlling purines does not mean absolute abstinence. A diverse diet, drinking enough water, limiting alcohol, controlling weight and maintaining exercise are important factors to help patients with increased blood uric acid and gout control the disease better.
