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Whey Protein Supplements and Gout

Q: Is it safe for someone with gout to take whey protein supplements?

A: Whey protein supplements are popular among athletes and bodybuilders because the supplements are often marketed as a means of building and maintaining muscle following workouts during which amino acids are depleted.

Whey proteins are a mixture of proteins that can be isolated from whey, a byproduct of cheese making. Whey proteins are considered complete proteins – that is, they include all the essential amino acids.

Gout is a form of arthritis stemming from an inborn error in the metabolism of the bodily waste product uric acid. Excess uric acid circulating in the blood seeps out and forms crystals in and around the joints. Historically, gout causes or contributing factors have included the consumption of a “rich” diet and the presence of a high level of purines. Purines, like proteins, include nitrogen and ultimately are excreted by the kidney as uric acid.

Whey proteins may not be linked directly with gout. However, people with gout should exercise caution before increasing the protein load from whey. The burden on the kidneys to excrete or clear the whey products might become excessive, especially if the kidneys are already compromised.

When deciding whether to use nutritional supplements, including whey protein supplements, discuss the pros and cons with your doctor. He or she will have the information needed about your kidney status, is familiar with the medications you are taking to treat gout and can evaluate your muscle status.

Mary Fran Sowers, PhD, RD, Registered Dietitian and Epidemiologist

STEVE TKACZ

31 Jan 2012, 15:20

HELLO,

I have had gout for 5 years. I am now on Uloric 80mgs per day. Uric acid level is 5.0. I still get pain with certain foods. I do work out and would like to start taking some form of protein supplement. I am hearing about products like iso100 no cholestrol-sugars-low in carbs.has anyone tried this powder yet?

Agaz

30 Jan 2012, 16:23

I have been dealing with gout for the past 3 years and have tried to adjust my diet and life style to suit. I am 28 years of age and over the past 6 months I have been going to the gym 5-6 times a week and been taking a pre(Jak3d)and during(Size On)gym supplement and a protein(MyoFusion) after my workouts. I have been having regular pains in my ankle/foot areas where I normally get gout. I am currently on Colchicine and take that if needed and the Doctor has prescribed me Allopurinol (300mg) which I haven't started yet.
I asked my doctor and they said it shouldn't be the supplements but I beg to differ. My diet is all in check and I eat regularly and have cut alcohol out completely so I don't see waht else would be causing the gout flaring up.
Are there any protein supplements I can take that you may know of that may be better? Or once I start the Allopurinol, will that bring my uric acid levels down and in check meaning I can continue using these supplements. Please help!!!... Thanks...

D-A-B

10 Jan 2012, 16:43

IM 23 and have suffered gout flair ups since i was just 19! it really sucks but i got the meds i needed and they worked wonders as soon as i felt an attack comming on, usually after a weekend of drinking most commonly! ive been workin out and vigerously lifting weights for nearly 2 years, commonly using weight gain whey protein products, and have never noticed any corrilation with gout flair-ups, but as i type ryt now i am in pain from gout, which even anti inflamitries along side my usual medication isnt having any possitive effect. olny yesterday i swapped my usual protein shakes for another brand i hadnt had before, im not saying for deffinate that it is, but this paticular protien suppulment has fructose in the ingrediance, something ive read that doesnt agree with gout sufferers!! my other previous shakes did not display fructose in the ingrediance! im guna experiment with it some more one this current eppisode subsides completley! wish me luck.

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gary

19 Sep 2011, 09:57

I have had many episodes of Gout and it sure is painfull. I have cut out almost all processed foods and sugar as much as possible. I am eating alot of veggies and make most of my foods rather than buying processed foods. I have lost 35 lbs. in 3 months. And no I have not increased exercising at all.
I decided to try whey protein powders to help keep muscle mass and I had two glasses of coconut milk mixed with whey protein powder in one day. The very next morning I had a gout flare up in my left big toe.
No more whey protein powder for me that is for sure.

greg

31 Jul 2011, 01:20

This past winter, while working out for the first time in years, I began taking a whey protein supplement. By mid-winter, I thought I'd mysteriously stabbed or strained my toe. This summer, while suffering from a cold and probably overdosing on vitamins, that sore toe flared into debilitating pain. I went to the doc for x rays. Diagnosis: gout. I've now done a lot of reading, and the clearest thing seems to be that it's not that clear. It's a poorly understood ailment for which there's a lot of conflicting information out there. Bottom line though: purines = uric acid = gout (for people who have some form of predisposition in the first place, I guess). My diet is pretty good, but beer consumption can certainly come down. Vitamin B3, called Niacin, can also apparently trigger gout, and it's common in supplements. There's a lot of info on the web, much if it conflicting and therefore confusing, and whey protein is said to be ok for gout, but that achy toe appeared last winter in direct correlation with the addition of the supplement. I'm cutting it out of the diet and looking for more natural and low- to moderate-level purine protein sources.

Fiz

24 Jun 2011, 17:37

I am doing body buiding and going to the gym for 2 to 3 days in the week and taking whey protein once daily I have high uric acid. Will whey protein affect my uric acid level?

ken

13 Jun 2011, 16:44

My uric acid is very high but im doing a body building my friend advised me to take amino acid. i just want to know if it safe or it will not increase my uric acid.

tootsie

31 May 2011, 07:47

i have gout problem, it attacks as often as twice every two months. we filipinos love to eat internal organs of animals, deliciously cooked, especially internal organs of goat, cow , and pig. is this one of the foods that are not recommended for person who suffered gout?

Allan

26 Feb 2011, 15:33

I have a gout i suffered very painfull on my big toe more than a year ago my 1st gout attack and thank god it never happens again , my phycisian MD prescribe medication to lower my uric acid level or for maintenance and i taking it daily, now my uric acid is normal, so can i take or drink any whey protien for my muscle build up, i am excercising loosing some weight/fat while and doing some lifting for my muscle... pls help.

Warren Esmilla

17 Feb 2011, 06:22

I am doing bodybuilding in 10 years and just recently used a whey protein supplement. I'm just worried if this will affect my gout. But during my teenage years, when i am 28 years old below i already used aminos during my workouts and not suffered in gout. I have a gout problem when i reach 29 years old. Please help me with this problem!

Leona

25 Jan 2011, 19:58

My boyfriend just came down with gout and it is the most painfull thing he has ever had happen to him besides getting his jaw broken when he was a young man. However, since then he has worked out all his life. He works out almost daily, I guess you could say he's been power lifting for years. He does take supplements, whey is one of them and amino acids 222, and lots of good food I thought. Should the whey be stopped because of it's contents?

susan

23 Jan 2011, 21:58

I am 35yrs old n recently found that I cannot take pulses, dairy n some citrus fruits which were my favorites because of gout.
What vegen diet should I take?
I have whey protein shake, can I use it every day?
Should I jog on treadmill for 20 minutes. I usually feel weak after jogging.

Kartik Kumar

21 Dec 2010, 02:55

I am doing body buiding and going to the gym for 5 days in the week and taking whey protein isolate once daily I have high uric acid and its in the family. Will whey protein affect my uric acid level since it is considered that whey proteins does not contains purine

Casey Swanson

06 Nov 2010, 15:20

I am 32 years old and lift weight five days a week. I have been taking a few different types of protein powder and was wondering if there is one out there that won't add to me getting gout. I have had it twice in the last 4 years. Once in my toe, and once in the knee.

Any suggestions of a protein supplement?

Waqas

20 Aug 2010, 13:10

our muscles are buildup of protein so there is no any other thing which increase muscle. but u can use calcium to reduce uric acid level.

tshekhar

16 Jul 2010, 10:29

i m 21 yrs old and my medical report showed that my uric level has increased to 6.0
and my backbone is giving me frequent pain almost everyday....i m lean n want to develop my body texture so i want to take whey protein...is it good for the uric acid patient like me to introduce the protein in my body?

09 Jul 2010, 00:51

Im sixteen years old and I have already been diagnosed with high Uric Acid. I am an athlete and I often work out. Many people suggest using protein powder to up my strength. I am wondering if protein powder will negatively affect my Uric Acid levels, or even worse, create joint pains.

Faizal

29 Jun 2010, 11:50

I have a gout problem and Im doing bodybuilding. With the problem of uric acid i cant have proteins, Appreciate if you can tell which suppliment helps me in bodybuilding to increase my muscle size. Please assist me on this points. Thanks.

Jerry Garcia

27 Jun 2010, 08:31

I'm a 39 yo male with a diagnostic of gout since I was 20 yo. I tried diet and it does not work for me. I have to take allopurinol 300 mg every day. I noticed that I cannot build muscle even if I kill myself at the gym without my milkshake protein after the workout. I had tried whey protein thinking that this will work for me and it does for a month but then I will have three episodes of acute gout in a week and it is TERRIBLE!I would need to take colchicine but it makes me feel so BAD for another week. I spoke to my doctor about my health and according to him I'm very healthy, just that my kidney cannot filter the uric acid. I hope you understand my situation and advise me with protein that will not affect my gout.
Thank you so much for your help.

avik das

11 Jun 2010, 11:33

i m doing bodybuilding.i have uric acid problem.therefore i cannot take certain proteins like seeds,pulses,eggs.can u suggest me a body supplement for muscle building in this situation.

woody woodruff

20 May 2010, 02:50

i have milk allergies and high blood-pressure but i don't know what i can eat to keep my gout in check. im over weight but trying to lose it can u give me some tips.

rex

22 Feb 2010, 10:41

i have 1.5 critinine what food i should eat to supliment my body. I am not taking animal products and pluses.

vic

01 Dec 2009, 04:01

been in body building for 3 years i use to drink supliment amino2222 from ON product my problem is i am now suffering of gout and cant hardly move my foot due to pain, is there any relation to the supliment with regards to gout attack?

Darlene Rose

10 Oct 2009, 00:33

I have heard that "Immunocal" can help with muscle mass and muscle performance. Several studies have been done on Immunocal. You can search pubmed.com and search "glutathione and immunocal" and see for yourself the studies that pertain to muscle mass and performance. Unless you have specific allergies to milk proteins, I have heard this product is safe for use. These studies show proof that Immunocal can help. I give it to my children for other illnesses but knew of the affect it can have on muscular performance. You can purchase it at: www.immunotec.com/naturallyhealthyliving

zoe

16 Sep 2009, 02:57

My husband has gout and has stayed away from his body building for around 9 weeks. He has recently gone back and seems to be ok, but he used to take a Super Whey Bodybuilding Protein drink after his work out. Will this affect his gout? He is concerned because of the word protein. also he has cut out alcohol - he used to drink lager every day - should this see a reduction in symptoms? What is a safe level of alcohol for him to drink per week?

sahil sethi

05 Sep 2009, 07:31

i have a uric acid problem and i m doing bodybuilding.with the problem of uric acid i cant have proteins,can u tell which suppliment helps me in bodybuilding to increse my muscle size.plz help me

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Whey Protein Supplements and Gout

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