Just one beer a day could increase your risk of gout, new research out today suggests.
Scientists analysed the medical records of 400,000 Britons and found that men who drink a pint a day are 60 per cent more likely to develop the painful joint disease.
In women, the risk of gout, a form of arthritis, was even higher: 62 percent.
Historically, the disease was known as ‘the disease of the kings’ because it affected middle-aged men and was thought to be caused by excessive consumption of rich foods and wines, such as port.
Kings such as Henry VIII and Queen Victoria also suffered from it. However, it was rare and reserved only for the wealthy who could afford such diets.
Men who drink a pint a day have a 60 percent higher chance of developing gout. This risk was even higher for women, at 62 percent
Wine consumption in the UK has soared, with wine now accounting for over a third of all alcohol consumed in the country, almost equalling beer.
Over the past few decades, there has been an increase in the number of diagnoses that concern physicians due to the increased availability of foods high in fat, sugar and salt.
The number of serious cases has increased, with more than 200,000 people admitted to hospital each year with the disease. Studies have shown that binge eating and lack of exercise play a role.
According to Arthritis UK, 1.5 million people in the UK suffer from this debilitating condition.
Gout is an inflammatory response to uric acid crystals that form in and around the joints, primarily affecting the feet.
Urate is a byproduct of the digestion of a substance called purine. Purine is a chemical found in large amounts in certain foods.
Red meat, organ meats such as liver, seafood, alcoholic beverages, and even sugary drinks are possible sources.
In the new study, researchers monitored the drinking habits of 401,128 Britons aged 37 to 73 who were gout-free.
During a 13-year follow-up study, scientists found that the risk of gout increased as people drank more beer.
A man who drank an average of two to three pints a week was 18 percent more likely to develop gout than a non-drinker.
This risk is more than double in people who drink more than seven pints per week.
However, data show that no level of port consumption led to a significant increase in the risk of gout.
However, the scientists also found that no amount of alcohol could actually reduce the risk of gout.
According to them, one glass of red wine per day increased the risk of gout in men by 12 percent.
In comparison, this has not been shown to increase the risk in women.
White wine and champagne also slightly increased the risk of gout in both sexes.
Writing in the diary, JAMA Network OpenedAccording to scientists from Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, beer and cider may be worse because they contain high purine content.
These are broken down in the body into uric acid.
“These findings suggest that specific alcoholic beverages are associated with a similar risk of gout in men and women and that alcohol consumption should be kept to a minimum to prevent gout, regardless of gender,” the researchers said.
According to Arthritis UK, 1.5 million people in the UK suffer from this debilitating condition.
According to experts, many people spent more time sitting during COVID lockdowns and may have eaten more snacks and junk food while working from home.
In addition to modern diets, the condition can also be linked to obesity. Medications, such as those designed to treat high blood pressure, can also be the cause.
Leading experts have been debating the dangers of moderate alcohol consumption for decades.
Last year, the topic came into the spotlight when WHO officials warned that no amount of alcohol is safe.
The NHS recommends that people drink no more than 14 ‘units’ of alcohol – around six glasses of wine or pints of beer – per week
The NHS recommends that people drink no more than 14 ‘units’ of alcohol – about six glasses of wine or pints of beer – per week.
However, this idea has been weakened in recent decades due to studies showing the health risks of alcohol.
Meanwhile, the US says women should drink no more than seven standard drinks per week and men 14..
These amounts include a medium glass of wine and 340 ml of beer, which is roughly the size of a normal bottle.