Intermittent Fasting and Gout: What You Should Know
Intermittent fasting has become increasingly popular in recent years, as many people have experienced its health-promoting benefits. However, if you have gout, it’s important to understand how intermittent fasting may affect your condition. What does the scientific literature reveal about the relationship between intermittent fasting and gout? Here’s what you need to know.
Does Intermittent Fasting Increase Uric Acid?
What the scientific literature reveals is that, first, fasting does indeed increase uric acid. Secondly, following a fast, uric acid rapidly returns to baseline. So, if you’re considering intermittent fasting and you have gout, it’s important to understand the impact of fasting on uric acid levels.
Does Intermittent Fasting Cause Gout Flares?
Certain types of fasting can increase the risk of gout flares, particularly when they involve a significant reduction in calorie intake. Fasting is frequently used by people to lose weight, but it can lead to dehydration, which can increase the risk of gout flares in a patient with gout. Therefore, if you have gout and are considering intermittent fasting, it’s important to stay well hydrated and monitor your uric acid levels.
What Does the Research Say?
Fasting has been reported to increase uric acid in the literature. Gumaa et al. reported the linear increase of serum uric acid level with the duration of fasting in healthy individuals. Now, it is not deciphered yet if the lowered uric acid is the direct impact of intermittent fasting or because of one of the key changes in food intake or lifestyle.
What You Should Know About Intermittent Fasting and Gout
Any type of fasting (irrespective of water intake) will certainly aggravate gout and raise uric acid levels metabolically leading to severe symptoms. If it was unavoidable to fast, then the patient should make sure that they break the fast with a very low purine meal. The patient with gout should be cautioned to monitor their uric acid levels during and following a fast and take the necessary steps to control it. Also, fasting has the potential to increase uric acid in the blood stream, which can increase your risk for gout.
Intermittent fasting can be a great way to lose weight and promote overall health, but it’s important to understand how it can affect your gout. If you have gout and are considering intermittent fasting, it’s important to stay well hydrated, monitor your uric acid levels, and take the necessary steps to control them. With the right approach, you can enjoy the benefits of intermittent fasting while mitigating the risk of gout flares.
Does fasting on a regular basis lower the levels of uric acid?
Research has shown that fasting can lead to an increase in uric acid levels, in addition to improvements in blood sugar, insulin sensitivity, lipid profiles, and a reduction of c-reactive protein (CRP), which has a positive impact on inflammation.
Does intermittent fasting increase the risk of gout flare up?
However, the dehydration that often results from fasting can increase the risk of gout flares.
Does abstaining from eating benefit gout sufferers?
The patient with gout should be warned against skipping meals and activities that could cause a quick shift in their urate levels.
Does ketosis have the potential to cause gout?
A 2012 study discovered that when individuals initially enter ketosis, the risk of gout increases due to a surge in uric acid. Fortunately, this risk is only temporary and diminishes after the body gets used to ketosis.
If you’re considering intermittent fasting and you have gout, it’s important to stay well hydrated, monitor your uric acid levels, and take the necessary steps to control them. Fasting Books online store has a variety of books on Intermittent Fasting and Gout. Check out our collection
