It's not just lifestyle and environmental factors: A new study suggests that another factor determines whether or not someone gets gout.
Gout has long been considered a direct result of poor lifestyle habits. Especially in Germany, many people associate the disease with an unhealthy diet, especially with excessive consumption of meat and alcohol. But new research from New Zealand shakes up this picture – and reveals a new main cause of the disease.
A large study examined the genetic data of 2.6 million people, including 120,295 people who had been diagnosed with gout. By comparing the genetic codes of people with and without gout, researchers found 377 DNA regions specific to the disease. What is remarkable is that 149 of these regions have never been associated with gout.
Study author Prof. Tony Merriman from the University of Otago was enthusiastic about the new findings. “This study has debunked the myth that gout has anything to do with poor lifestyle habits or diet – it is a genetically influenced disease,” he explained in a press release.
The old stigma that prevents many sufferers from seeking medical help in a timely manner could be a thing of the past thanks to new findings. Many patients feel ashamed because they believe their illness is the result of unhealthy eating and drinking habits. This perspective often leads to them delaying going to the doctor and therefore having to endure their pain for an unnecessarily long time. There are preventive medications that lower the uric acid level in the blood and prevent pain, says Prof. Merriman.
Although the research results make it clear that inherited factors are more important than previously thought, nutritional habits still play a decisive role in the development of gout. In particular, foods rich in purines such as red meat can still trigger gout attacks. You can read more about purine-rich and low-purine foods here.
The scientists therefore also emphasize: A healthy diet can help reduce the risk of acute attacks and have a positive influence on the course of the disease. However, those affected should be aware that even with optimal nutrition, genetic factors cannot be completely balanced.
