From the Guidelines
Foods high in purines include meats, organ meats, and seafoods.
Details of High Purine Foods
- Meats and organ meats are commonly associated with high purine content 1
- Seafoods, including fatty fish with high content of omega-3 fatty acids, are also high in purines 1
Importance of Low Purine Diet
- A low purine diet is often recommended for gout patients, although the evidence supporting this recommendation is generally low to moderate quality 1
- Some studies suggest a dose-response relationship between increasing purine intake and risk of gout flare 1
Considerations for Dietary Recommendations
- Nutritional lifestyle changes, including reducing purine intake, should be based on high-quality evidence to ensure effectiveness and minimize potential harm 1
- Patients should be aware of the potential benefits and harms of dietary changes and be supported in making informed decisions about their diet 1
From the Research
Foods High in Purines
Foods that are high in purines include:
- Animal meats, such as beef liver 2, 3
- Fish meats, such as haddock fillets 2, 3
- Organs, such as liver and fish milt 2, 4
- Yeast, including dried yeast 2, 4
- Certain types of seafood, such as anchovy, cutlassfish (hairtail), and cod milt 4
- Some supplements, such as Euglena and Lactobacillus supplements 4
Purine Content of Specific Foods
The purine content of specific foods can vary widely, with some foods containing very high levels of purines, including:
- Fish milt, which can contain up to 559.8 mg/100g of purines 4
- Dried yeast, which can contain up to 847.1 mg/100g of purines 4
- Anchovy, which can contain up to 385.4 mg/100g of purines 4
- Beef liver, which can contain up to 118-1,034 μmol/100g of purines 3, 5
Importance of Monitoring Purine Intake
Monitoring purine intake is important for individuals with gout and hyperuricemia, as high purine intake can lead to increased serum uric acid levels and exacerbate these conditions 2, 6, 4, 3, 5