Can people with high uric acid levels consume oyster sauce?

Jul 16, 2024 Source: Cainiu Health
Disease description:

During a recent hospital check-up, I found out that my uric acid levels were high. Since I usually like to use oyster sauce when cooking, I was wondering if it's okay to consume oyster sauce with high uric acid levels?

Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Yang Ziqi
Individuals with high uric acid levels can consume oyster sauce in moderation while maintaining an overall balanced diet, but should avoid excessive intake. Elevated uric acid levels are primarily caused by abnormal purine metabolism in the body, leading to increased uric acid concentration in the blood, which may trigger diseases such as gout. High-purine foods, such as seafood and meats, should be limited to control uric acid levels. Although oyster sauce is a seasoning derived from seafood like oysters, most of the purine content is destroyed or evaporates with water during its long cooking and concentration process, resulting in relatively low purine levels in oyster sauce. Consuming oyster sauce in moderation generally does not significantly affect uric acid levels, provided total purine intake remains controlled. However, this also depends on individual conditions. Patients with high uric acid levels still need to adjust their overall dietary structure, follow a low-purine diet principle, and plan their meals appropriately under a doctor's guidance.