Soda Raises Gout Risk

Over-consuming sugary drinks like orange juice and soda may increase your risk of gout, claims a new study in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Causes of gout vary; medical conditions like obesity, metabolic syndrome, and high blood pressure may lead to gout, so can lifestyle factors such as poor diet and lack of physical activity. Genetics are also a factor.

Symptoms of gout may include redness and swollen joints, usually in the feet and big toes, resulting in pain, fatigue, and high fever.

Researchers found women who drank two or more cans of non-diet soda per day were,more than twicer as likely to develop gout compared to women who rarely drank soft drinks. Drinking 12 or more ounces of orange juice each day also increased gout risk, similarly to soda.

Women drinking one soda per day were 74% more likely to develop gout. And drinking 6 ounces of orange juice each day raised gout risk by 41%.

But the scientist point out the overall risk of getting gout is very low, over a 22 year period only 1% of the 79,000 study participants developed the condition.

An acute outbreak of gout will usually resolve within 5 to 7 days, but medications, like steroids, are often used to relieve symptoms.