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Gout linked to soft, sugary drinks
The consumption of sweet drinks has been linked to a surge in the number of cases of gout, a painful disease of the joints.
According to the results of a lengthy study, men who consume two or more soft, sugary drinks each day are 85% more likely to contract gout, than those who consume less than one drink a month.
The research, published in the British Medical Journal, suggests that the type of sugar known as fructose is responsible for raising levels of uric acid, a known factor in gout.
In the study, more than 46,000 men over the age of 40, none of whom had been diagnosed with gout, were monitored over a 12-year period.
By the end of the period, 755 new cases of gout had been reported, with those drinking more soft, sugary drinks found to be significantly more likely to have developed the condition.
It is thought that dietary advice for gout, which has focused on avoiding red meat and purine, will now include soft, sugary drinks.
The researchers warned that 'fructose rich fruits and fruit juices may also increase the risk,' although they also pointed out that diet soft drinks were not associated with the risk of gout.
Category: Healthy Lifestyle
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