Increasing daily vitamin C intake prevents gout, a new study finds. Gout is an arthritic condition caused by uric acid (monosodium urate) crystals deposited in joints. The study finds that consuming an average of 500 mg of vitamin C is associated with gout prevention.
The study, published in this month’s Archives of Internal Medicine, focused on the intake of vitamin C among 46,994 healthy men, and examined the effect on the development of gout. Every four years participants received a questionnaire that asked about vitamin C intake, over a period of twenty years (1986-2006). They were asked whether or not they received the vitamin through diet or supplements.
During the study period, 1,317 new cases of gout presented. Those who had a higher daily intake of vitamin C were at a consistently lower risk of developing the disease. The amount of vitamin C each man took directly correlated with his risk of developing gout. Those who consumed an average of 1,000-1,499 mg of vitamin C per day experienced a 34 percent lower chance of developing gout than those who didn’t, while those who consumed more than 1500 mg of vitamin C per day experienced a 45 percent lower chance of developing gout than those who didn’t.
Vitamin C is the common name for ascorbic acid, a water-soluble vitamin necessary to everyday diet. It is needed for tissue growth and repair, collagen formation and protein formation. It is also needed to heal wounds and has general maintenance functions. It is an antioxidant and has also been shown to boost the immune system. In doses over 2000 mg/day it may lead to upset stomach and diarrhea. It is essential to the diet as the body can’t produce it, but it is common in green peppers, citrus fruits and juices, strawberries, tomatoes, broccoli and many others.
Gout is a form of arthritis caused by uric acid build-up in joints. It can cause sensations of pain, stiffness and swelling in joints, most commonly the big toe. Gout is more common in men than in women and can eventually cause damage to joints, tendons and other tissues. Hyperuricemia, or high content of uric acid in the blood, does not necessarily mean that one will develop gout. However, if pain presents in the big toe along with swelling and redness, it is a common sign of gout.
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