Is Milk Good for Gout?

I’ve long been a proponent of seeking foods that are good for gout, rather than worrying about foods to avoid.

Finding gout cures you enjoy eating or drinking, brings a smile to any gout sufferer.

Today, I’ll revisit milk to bring us all up to date with the latest research, before I delve into my investigation of the myths and mysteries surrounding high protein foods.

Milk For Gout: Contents

Milk For Gout

The 1991 investigation claiming milk is beneficial for gout appears to be somewhat ignored by the medical profession. Now, almost 10 years later, a similar investigation reports similar findings. I have not done a full comparison of the two milk and uric acid studies. For one thing, I do not have full access to the latest study. However, you should find plenty of useful information in this summary taken from the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) press release.

Please note that I’ve paraphrased the original press release to make it more readable and relevant to us non-medical people. The full report about gout and milk has subsequently been published in the British Medical Journal [1].

Is Milk Bad for Gout?

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Milk For Gout: Overview

Milk For Gout Diet Image — Uric Acid Percent Change After Milk

The ACR’s press release, ‘Got Gout? Get Milk’, promotes the research presented at their Annual Scientific Meeting in Philadelphia, Pa.

It describes gout as a painful and potentially disabling form of arthritis with symptoms usually consisting of intense episodes of painful swelling in single joints, most often in the feet (especially the big toe).

They note that treatments are already available to prevent or control arthritis associated with gout, but managing this disorder can be difficult, and treatment plans often have to be tailored for each person. I believe it is vital that treatment is planned individually, which is a key point in the Gout Freedom campaign.

They note that previous studies indicate that individuals who drink a lot of milk have a lower risk of developing gout. Though not specifically referenced, this is almost certainly Choi’s statistical analysis linking high dairy consumption with lower gout incidence.

Milk For Gout: Research Report

The presentation is titled: “The Acute Effect of Skim Milk On Serum Urate Concentrations: A Randomized Controlled Cross-Over Trial” and it’s authors are listed as:

Nicola Dalbeth, FRACP, Department of Medicine, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
Sumwai Wong, Department of Medicine, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
Greg Gamble, Department of Medicine, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
Anne Horne, Department of Medicine, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
Barbara Mason, Department of Medicine, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
Lynette Fairbanks, Guy’s Hospital, London, United Kingdom
Fiona M. McQueen, Department of Medicine, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
Jillian Cornish, Department of Medicine, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
Ian R. Reid, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
Kate Palmano, Fonterra Research Centre, Palmerston North, New Zealand

Uric Acid Research Purpose

Recent observational studies have highlighted the beneficial role of skim milk in prevention of gout. The aims of this study were to determine the acute effects of intact skim milk on serum urate concentrations and to examine the mechanisms of the urate-lowering effects of skim milk.

Uric Acid Research Method

This was a short-term randomized controlled cross-over trial of skim milk in 16 healthy male volunteers. The following products were tested (each 80g protein):

soy control
early season skim milk
late season skim milk (containing high concentrations of orotic acid, a naturally occurring uricosuric agent)
MPC 85 skim milk (an ultra-filtrated skim milk containing very low concentrations of orotic acid, purines and lactose)

Each participant received a single dose of each product (each containing 80 grams of protein) in random order. Researchers collected samples of blood and urine immediately before each participant drank one of the beverages and then hourly over a three-hour period. They completed this with each participant for each of the four beverages with a week in between each session.

Uric Acid Research Results

After drinking the soy milk, uric acid in the blood increased by about 10 percent. In contrast, all skim kinds of milk led to a decrease in serum uric acid by approximately 10 percent. All products (including the soy milk) rapidly increased the ability of the kidneys to remove uric acid from the body.

Additionally, researchers found that late-season skim milk led to a greater increase in the removal of uric acid by the kidneys when compared to the other skim milk. Late season skim milk is primarily available from countries where milking is seasonal and cows are grass-fed, such as New Zealand and Australia, and is known to contain higher levels of orotic acid, a substance that promotes uric acid removal by the kidneys.

There were no significant differences over time or between groups in changes in serum oxypurines (xanthine and hypoxanthine) or purines (guanosine and inosine). However, all products led to an increased excretion of xanthine.

Uric Acid Research Conclusion

The press release concludes that the study showed that skim milk has a specific acute uric acid-lowering effect. The authors suggest long-term studies for further proof that it might be a good dietary source of gout cures.

“This study has shown that skim milk can significantly reduce the serum uric acid concentration in the short term,” explains Nicola Dalbeth, MD, FRACP; senior lecturer, clinical medicine, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand, and lead investigator of the study. “The results suggest that increasing the amount of skim milk in the diet may help with preventing the development of gout, and also assist with treatment for those with the disease. We are now continuing this work by studying the longer term effects of milk in people with gout.”

Is Milk Good for Your Gout?

Now is a good time to seriously consider improving your diet with skim milk. Do not forget that even the lowest fat skim milk still has some energy, so if you are counting the calories make sure you plan this diet change properly.

More importantly, you must realize that the uric acid lowering effects of skim milk, though significant, may not be enough to reduce your uric acid to a safe level. You must continue to check uric acid levels regularly to ensure that you remain safe.

If you are used to drinking full-fat whole milk, I found that by gradually reducing the fat content, I was soon happy with the taste of skim milk. In fact, I now find full-fat milk far too creamy for my palate.

There are more natural gout cures to lower uric acid in the Gout Treatment Section.

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