Drinking sugar-sweetened soft drinks can do more than increase your waistline and lead to tooth decay. A new study published in the British Medical Journal offers important findings on the relationship between soda and gout. Soda, sugary drinks and fructose consumption, the study said, are strongly associated with an increased risk of gout in men and are discouraged gout foods.
Researchers in the United States and Canada followed over 46,000 men aged 40 years and older who had no history of gout. The men completed regular questionnaires about their intake of more than 130 foods and beverages, including sugar-sweetened soft drinks and diet soft drinks, over a period of 12 years. Different types of fruits and fruit juices (high in natural fructose) were also assessed.
At the start of the study and every two years thereafter, information on weight, regular use of medications and medical conditions was also gathered. Gout was diagnosed according to American College of Rheumatology criteria.
During 12 years of follow-up, the researchers documented 755 newly diagnosed cases of gout. Soda intake affected their risk of developing the condition. The risk was significantly increased with an intake level of five to six servings per week, and the risk was 85 percent higher among men who consumed two or more servings of sugar-sweetened soft drinks per day compared with those who consumed less than one serving per month, demonstrating a clear relationship between soda and gout.
Fruit juice and fructose-rich fruits were associated with a higher risk of gout. Foods such as apples and oranges, the authors stress, contain higher fructose levels but also help prevent chronic disorders such as high blood pressure, coronary heart disease, stroke and certain types of cancer, thus their findings should be balanced against these benefits.
