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	Search Quick Order Form» Departments Vitamins Minerals Supplements Herbs Home & Grocery Diet & Fitness Body & Bath More Ways to Shop Brands A-Z Natural Remedies Children & Infants Women's Health Men's Health Seniors Free Catalog MotherNature.com's Catalog Is Here! Click Here to Get Your Free Copy Today. Newsletter Sign Up Weekly health news, sale announcements and coupons!		Library Home > Special Diets > Low-Purine Diet LOW-PURINE DIET Introduction Why this diet? Foods to avoid Best bets Resources Bibliography References Visit The Healthy Living Bookshelf: 21 Online Health Books From Rodale A low-purine diet is often prescribed for individuals with gout and Lesch-Nyhan Syndrome (a rare genetic disorder that occurs in 1/100,000 people). People with diabetic nephropathy need to restrict proteins, a regimen that includes, but is not limited to, the restrictions imposed by a low-purine diet. Why do people follow this diet? In people who have gout, uric acid production in the body is increased while its elimination is reduced. The excess uric acid builds up in the bloodstream, is deposited in the small joints or soft tissues, and causes symptoms that resemble arthritis. Purine is a compound that is mainly found in animal protein and is metabolized to uric acid in the body. A high-purine diet, obesity, regular alcohol consumption, and diuretic therapy can all contribute to elevated uric acid levels in individuals with gout. Preliminary research suggests that insulin resistance may also play a role in the development of gout. A low-purine diet and medications—such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, corticosteroids, and allopurinol—are commonly used to treat gout. An effective diet is important to avoid or reduce complications and lessen the expense of drug treatment. Restricting calorie intake and alcohol consumption, and losing weight (if overweight), can also reduce uric acid levels. It is also important to drink plenty of fluids to increase uric acid excretion from the body. Alternative sources of protein should be included in a low-purine diet. What do I need to avoid? To avoid purine ask about ingredients at restaurants and others’ homes, and read food labels. The following list is not complete. Consult with a healthcare professional before making any significant changes to your diet. The following foods have very high purine levels, and should be avoided completely: Anchovies Bouillon Brains Broth Consommé Dried legumes Goose Gravy Heart Herring Kidneys Liver Mackerel Meat extracts Mincement Mussels Partridge Roe Sardines Scallops Shrimp Sweetbreads Yeast (baker’s and brewer’s) Yeast extracts (e.g., Marmite, Vegemite) These foods have high purine levels Fish (including shellfish) Poultry Meat (except those with very high purine content, noted above, or those with moderately high purine levels, noted below) These foods have moderately high purine levels Asparagus Cauliflower Legumes Lentils Mushrooms Oatmeal Peas (dried) Soy Spinach Tripe Best bets Beverages (carbonated) Butter Cereals and cereal products Cheese (all kinds) Cocoa (however, caffeine is prohibited in Lesch-Nyhan Syndrome) Corn Cornbread Eggs Fruit juices Fruits Gelatin Ice cream Milk Noodles Nuts Refined wheat flour Tapioca Vegetables (except those noted above) White bread and crackers (but not whole wheat, which is moderately high in purines) White rice Are there any groups or books? National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases http://www.nih.gov/niams/ Arthritis Foundation http://www.arthritis.org The Purine Metabolic Patient’s Association http://www.pumpa.co.uk Bibliography Dessein PH, Shipton EA, Stanwix AE, et al. Beneficial effects of weight loss associated with moderate calorie/carbohydrate restriction, and increased proportional intake of protein and unsaturated fat on serum urate and lipoprotein levels in gout: a pilot study. Ann Rheum Dis. 2000;59:539–43. Emmerson BT. The management of gout. N Engl J Med 1996;334:445–51. Mahan LK, Escott-Stump S, eds. Krause’s Food, Nutrition and Diet Therapy. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: W.B. Saunders Company; 2000. http://www.marinurology.com/articles/calculi/foods/purines.htm Wolfram G. [Diet therapy in gout]. Ther Umsch 1995;52:524–7.

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