Drinking Coffee Might Stave off Gout

New research indicates coffee drinkers maybe be less prone to an attack of gout, a type of arthritis that causes sudden, severe attacks of pain and tenderness in joints, especially of those of the big toe. This joint inflammation results from an accumulation of urate crystals composed of the uric acid formed from the breakdown of purines, which are found in certain foods, especially organ meats, as well as anchovies, herring, asparagus and mushrooms.

The data from a large-scale study published as Coffee, Tea, and Caffeine Consumption and Serum Uric Acid Level: The Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (Hyon K. Choi, Gary Curhan, Arthritis Care & Research, June 2007; 57:5) suggests that coffee consumption may lower blood uric acid levels. It examined the relationship between coffee, tea, caffeine intake, and uric acid levels, and found that increased coffee consumption is associated with lower uric acid levels, but this is likely a result of naturally occurring compounds other than caffeine.

The researchers based the study on the U.S. Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, conducted between 1988 and 1994, that included blood and urine samples from more than 14,000 men and women at least 20 years old. Their coffee and tea consumption were based on responses to a food questionnaire that assessed intake over the previous month. Researchers extrapolated the amount of caffeine they consumed by using USDA caffeine-content data.

The study found that blood uric-acid levels significantly decreased as coffee intake increased, but the same did not hold true with increasing tea consumption. Serum uric acid level associated with coffee intake of 4 to 5 and 6 cups daily was lower than that associated with no intake by 0.26 mg/dl. In addition, no association was found between total caffeine intake from the beverages and uric acid levels. These results mirrored findings in the only previous study on the subject, which was conducted in Japan. Increased decaffeinated coffee consumption also resulted in lower uric acid levels. These findings suggest that components of coffee other than caffeine contribute to the observed inverse association between coffee intake and uric acid levels, the researchers concluded.

Because another recent study found coffee consumption was linked to lower C-peptide levels, a marker of insulin levels, the researchers in this study speculate that, due to the strong relationship between insulin resistance and elevated uric acid levels, the decreased insulin levels associated with coffee consumption may lead to lower uric acid levels. Coffee also provides significant levels of chlorogenic acid, a strong antioxidant, which may improve insulin sensitivity and also helps inhibit glucose absorption in the intestine.