Sunday, October 7, 2012

Cherries May Prevent Gout Flares

Cherries May Prevent Gout Flares


Gout Patients are less likely to report acute attacks after 2 days of eating cherries or imbibing cherry extract than during periods after no cherry intake, according to data reported in Arthritis & Rheumatism by Yuqing Zhang, DSci, and colleagues from Boston University School of Medicine in Massachusetts.
Cherry intake during a 2-day period is associated with a 35% lower risk for gout attacks and that cherry extract intake with a 45% lower risk.
Risk for gout attacks was reduced by 75% when cherry intake was combined with allopurinol use.
In the study if subjects took allopurinol alone, it reduced the risk of gout attack by 53%; if subjects took cherry alone, it reduced the risk by 32%; if they took both, the risk of gout attack was reduced by 75%, reporst Medscape.
A cherry serving was defined as one-half cup or 10 to 12 cherries.
Cherries may decrease serum uric acid levels by increasing glomerular filtration or reducing tubular reabsorption.
Cherries and cherry extract contain high levels of anthocyanins, which possess anti-inflammatory properties.

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