"Chicken Feels Wronged"... Endured It Thinking It Causes Gout, But There's Another Main Cause

International Research Team Analyzes Genetic Data of 2.6 Million People
"Gout Is a Genetic Disease That Requires Lifelong Treatment"

Chicken and beer are not to blame for gout? For a long time, dietary habits have been pointed out as the main cause of gout, which is described as feeling like "being cut by a knife even when the wind just brushes past," but a study has revealed that genetics have a greater influence.

Recently, an international research team including the University of Otago in New Zealand analyzed the genetic information of 2.6 million people and concluded that "gout, a chronic disease, is a genetic disorder that requires lifelong treatment." Among the study participants, there were 120,295 gout patients. By comparing the genetic codes of people with and without gout, the team identified gout-related variations in 377 specific DNA regions.

The co-lead researcher of this study, Professor Tony Merriman of the University of Otago (Microbiology, Immunology), said, "Gout is a chronic disease with very strong genetic factors, so it is not the patient's fault," and added, "The mistaken belief that gout is caused by poor lifestyle or dietary habits must now change." He also noted, "Many patients feel shame because of these incorrect misconceptions."

A study has revealed that "gout is a chronic disease with a very strong genetic factor, so it is not the patient's fault. The mistaken belief that gout is caused by poor lifestyle or dietary habits must now change." Getty Images

The research team explained that while the consumption of certain foods such as red meat can trigger gout attacks, the more fundamental causes of gout are high urate levels, crystals in the joints, and an immune system ready to 'attack' those crystals. Genetics play a key role in all these processes.

Professor Merriman stated, "We were able to identify many immune genes and immune pathways that provide new targets and approaches for preventing gout attacks," and expressed hope that "this research will lead to improved treatments for gout." The study results were published in the international journal Nature Genetics.

Meanwhile, gout, which occurs due to urate deposits in joint spaces, is a common disease among men. It is generally known that men are 3 to 4 times more likely to develop gout than women. In South Korea, the situation is even more severe; according to the National Health Insurance Service statistics, about 93% of the approximately 510,000 patients treated for gout in 2022 were men.

The most representative symptom of gout is a very painful acute arthritis attack.

Joint inflammation occurs as a reaction to urate crystals, and food plays a minor role when urate levels are high. However, for people who have urate crystals in their joints, food acts as a strong factor triggering gout. Foods harmful to gout patients are those high in purines, such as meats (chicken, beef, pork, etc.), blue-backed fish (herring, mackerel, sardines, saury, etc.), shrimp, lobsters, and other crustaceans. Among meats, liver and offal contain particularly high purine levels. Additionally, improving lifestyle-related diseases such as obesity, hyperlipidemia, alcoholism, and hypertension is essential for gout treatment.