What foods should be avoided with hyperuricemia?

Written by Li Hui Zhi
Endocrinology
Updated on September 25, 2024
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Hyperuricemia generally requires a low-purine diet. So, what foods should be avoided? First, seafood and sea fish, as they have a high purine content and should not be consumed. Second, avoid animal organs like chicken and duck kidneys. Third, abstain from alcohol, especially strong spirits and beer, which tend to raise uric acid levels, so it's recommended to avoid them. Fourth, it is advised not to consume long-cooked broths, such as those commonly enjoyed in Guangdong where the broth is simmered for several hours, as these also have high purine content. Fifth, limit intake of some bean products and various mushrooms, as these should also be consumed minimally.

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Written by Lin Xiang Dong
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Hyperuricemia standards

The diagnostic criteria for hyperuricemia specify that under normal purine diet conditions, if the fasting serum uric acid level on non-consecutive days exceeds 420 micromoles/liter for males and 360 micromoles/liter for females, hyperuricemia can be diagnosed. Hyperuricemia is typically classified into primary hyperuricemia and secondary hyperuricemia, with most patients showing no clear clinical symptoms.

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What vegetables should be eaten for hyperuricemia?

For hyperuricemia, almost all vegetables, fruits, milk, and eggs can be safely consumed, as these foods are low in purines and therefore can be eaten without concern. However, spinach among the vegetables contains a certain amount of purines. It can be consumed by individuals with hyperuricemia, but it is important to limit the quantity and not consume too much. On the other hand, consumption of some high-purine animal organs such as heart, liver, kidney, brain, crabs, oysters, and other high-purine foods should be restricted. Additionally, meat, fish, and shrimp, which also contain certain amounts of purines, can be consumed but intake should be moderated.

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Written by Liang Yin
Endocrinology
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How to reduce high uric acid in hyperuricemia?

The treatment of hyperuricemia includes lifestyle intervention and medication. Lifestyle intervention involves controlling the total caloric intake of the diet, limiting the intake of high-purine foods, avoiding animal offal, shellfish, hot pots, and not consuming tofu, bean sprouts, and other soy products. Smoking and drinking alcohol should be prohibited. It is advocated to eat alkaline foods and choose melon-type vegetables. Appropriate exercise, such as brisk walking, jogging, and aerobic dancing, should be performed. Weight control is necessary, and obese patients should lose weight. Secondly, medication should be used to lower uric acid levels. Options include drugs that promote the excretion of uric acid and drugs that inhibit the production of uric acid, while also alkalizing the urine.

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Written by Li Hui Zhi
Endocrinology
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How should one with hyperuricemia adjust their diet?

For the diet of hyperuricemia, it is generally recommended to follow a low-purine diet. What is a low-purine diet? First, try to avoid consuming seafood, animal organs, and other seafood products that contain high purines. Second, it is advised to abstain from alcohol, especially spirits and beer, and it is best not to drink them at all. Third, drink plenty of water, ensuring a daily intake of at least 1500 to 2000 milliliters. Fourth, it is also recommended to avoid consuming traditional long-cooked soups and hotpots.

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Written by Chen Xie
Endocrinology
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How is hyperuricemia treated?

The treatment of hyperuricemia mainly includes: First, improving lifestyle, including healthy eating with a low-purine diet, quitting smoking, drinking more water, exercising regularly, and controlling weight. Second, alkalinizing the urine using sodium bicarbonate to maintain urine pH between 6.2 and 6.9, which facilitates the excretion of uric acid. Third, avoiding medications that increase blood uric acid levels, such as diuretics, corticosteroids, and insulin, among others. Fourth, using medications that lower uric acid, including drugs that increase uric acid excretion, mainly benzbromarone and probenecid, and drugs that inhibit uric acid synthesis, such as allopurinol and febuxostat. The choice of medication has specific indications, contraindications, and side effects, and it is advised to use these medications under the guidance of a specialist and not to self-medicate.