Gout and Rheumatoid Arthritis

• Serum uric acid is excreted in urine after it is removed by the kidneys. Gout and rheumatoid arthritis suffferers do not digest the purines efficiently. Uric acid crystals from the digestion of purines is deposited in joints or soft tissue of RA patients creating tophi, nodular masses of uric acid crystals. Tophi are most common in fingers, elbows, and the big toe. Tophi cause inflammatory arthritis, swelling, pain and stiffness in the joints.
  
  

Gout Requires Low Purine Diet

• Purines are organic compounds that contain nitrogen. Adenine and guanine found in DNA and RNA are purines. Anchovies, asparagus, beef kidneys, dried beans and peas, game meats, gravy, herring, liver, mackerel, mushrooms, sardines and scallops are highest in purines, but beef, pork, poultry, fish and seafood, cauliflower, spinach, mushrooms, green peas, oatmeal, wheat bran and wheat germ all contain a moderate amount.
  
  Gout sufferers follow a low purine diet to lower the synthesis of urate. A high purine diet causes serum uric acid to rise. A low purine diet may be all that is required to alleviate clinical gout.
  
  Fasting uric acid is low to zero, Alcohol associated glycogen storage produces an acute rise in purines, uric acid, triglycerides and high blood pressure.
  
  

Low-Fat Diet for High Cholesterol

• Dietary fiber, essential fatty acids, vitamins and minerals lower cholesterol with weight loss and reduced consumption of fats. Daily physical activity and avoiding cigarettes and alcohol reduce cholesterol. Sugar and alcohol drastically increas triglycerides and blood pressure. Saturated and trans fats are the most dangerous fats and must be less than 10 percent of your daily fat calories.
  
  

Lifestyle Changes

• Daily physical activity and avoiding cigarettes and alcohol reduce cholesterol, blood pressure, and gout.
  
  A study by the National Institutes of Health about gout and alcohol (2009) reveals that alcoholism and gout are frequently associated. The alcoholic's serum uric acid levels are severely high due to increased purines and reduced fiiltration of urate by the kidneys. Alcoholism results in raised serum lactate levels and glycogen storage disease. Alcohol interferes with the removal of uric acid from the body and elevates high blood pressure and triglycerides through glycogen metabolism.
  
  

Vitamin Supplements

• Vitamin B3, niacin, improves circulation and cholesterol levels. Vitamin C contains antioxidants and zinc and decreases risk of cancer and heart disease. Vitamin D and calcium prevent or slow osteoporosis and reduce bone fractures. Vitamin D reduces muscle pain, weakness and autoimmune disorders like rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, cardiovascular disease and cancer. Antioxidants in Vitamin E protect red blood cells and affect the body's immune function, lowering the risk of cancer and heart disease.