DASH Diet May Lower Uric Acid Levels
Having excess amounts of uric acid in the body (hyperuricemia) is a risk factor for developing gout. With gout, excess uric acid can settle in joints and trigger attacks of a painful, swollen joint. Researchers assessed the effect on uric acid levels of following the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) eating plan. The research, which was a review of four studies including a total of 590 adults, was published in Scientific Reports (June 2023). Participants were assigned to a DASH diet or a typical American diet. Close to half of those in the DASH diet group had hyperuricemia and half had high blood pressure. After at least four weeks, uric acid levels significantly decreased by a mean of 0.25 mg/dL among those on the DASH diet. The DASH diet comprises fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy foods, whole grains, poultry, fish and nuts.
