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High BMI, sugar-sweetened beverage consumption linked to higher risk for gout
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Individuals with a high BMI who consumed high amounts of sugar-sweetened beverages were more likely to have higher serum urate levels compared to individuals who consumed fewer sugar-sweetened beverages, regardless of BMI, according to the results of a recently published study.
Researchers studied data from 12,870 people without gout from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC), Framingham Heart Study (FHS) and New Zealand (NZ) datasets that included data on sugar-sweetened beverage consumption and serum urate levels in addition to demographic data. In addition, an acute fructose challenge was conducted with 76 healthy volunteers followed by a series of blood tests for up to 3 hours.
Patients in the ARIC, FHS and NZ datasets were stratified into two groups by BMI above or below 25 mg/kg2, then each group was stratified into three groups each: a group who consumed no sugar-sweetened beverages per day, a low consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (up to two beverages per day) group and a high consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (more than two beverages per day) group. An additional group of 2,578 individuals were identified from the NZ dataset, 1,210 of whom were diagnosed with gout based on 1977 American Rheumatism Association criteria.
Data analysis showed that individuals with high BMI who consumed more than two sugar-sweetened beverages per day were more likely to have higher serum urate than participants who consumed no or low amounts of sugar-sweetened beverages. In the low BMI group, no association was seen with sugar-sweetened beverage intake and serum urate.
In patients with gout and low BMI, low sugar-sweetened beverage intake was associated with a reduced OR for gout compared to no intake and no increase in OR for gout was observed in patients who consumed high amounts of sugar-sweetened beverages. In patients with gout and higher BMI, increased intake of sugar-sweetened beverages was associated with an OR of 1.33 for gout.
In individuals who underwent the acute fructose challenge, at baseline and after consuming a sugar solution of 300 kcal/300 mL at 30, 60, 120 and 180 minutes, serum urate levels were higher compared to participants with low BMI. While both groups had increases in serum uric acid in response to the fructose load, at 120 and 180 minutes, fractional excretion of uric acid was much higher in the group with low BMI. Fractional excretion of uric acid decreased significantly at 60 minutes in the group with high BMI compared to baseline. – by Shirley Pulawski
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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