Dr. Lam Labs, LLC

Are Cherries Good for Gout?

Do you have gout?

Then you are familiar with the bouts of gout pain. This happens when there is buildup of uric acid around the joint, and the attack of gout may even wake you up in the middle of the night.  

Any joint can be involved, but the common places for gout are the knee, foot, ankle, and the first toe. When a gout attack happens, this can continue on for a week. Severe attacks may even persist up to several weeks.

Although there is no known gout cure, the symptoms may be lessened by taking medicines that lower the levels of uric acid in the body, such as allopurinol and colchicine. These do not actually treat gout but prevent the attacks of gout.  Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs (ibuprofen, naproxen, diclofenac) and corticosteroids. But as with all other drugs, these can have adverse side effects.

Research on the Use of Cherry for Gout Management

Thus, researchers continuously test different alternative ways to manage gout. For generations, cherries have reportedly been used to keep gout attacks in check. Recent studies are now showing evidence that cherries do provide promising results.

A study done by researchers at Boston University Medical Center found that eating at least 10 cherries a day provided protection from recurrent attacks of gout. According to Dr. Choi, taking cherries was associated with 50 percent lower risk of gout flares over a 48-hour period.

Likewise, laboratory findings at Michigan State University suggest that eating the equivalent of 20 tart cherries in all forms – fresh, cherry juice, cherry extract – inhibits enzymes which are the targets of anti-inflammatory drugs. The studies suggest that the antioxidants found in cherries may be natural inhibitors of enzymes.

How do cherries work for the management of gout?

Scientists say that cherries may lower blood uric acid levels by increasing the excretion of uric acid by the kidneys. They also noted that cherries as well as cherry extract contain high levels of anthocyanins, which have powerful anti inflammatory properties. Thus, cherries can help alleviate symptoms of gout and prevent gout attacks. Cherry extract products may be used as a more convenient alternative to fresh cherries.

GouTrol by Dr. Lam Labs, LLC is a nutritional supplement with wild cherry that is in a convenient pill form. Many people now choose natural gout supplements to manage gout as an adjunct and alternative to treat gout symptoms, together with a proper diet, lifestyle changes, and physician monitoring.