Can people with high uric acid levels eat clams?
Disease description:
I used to really enjoy eating clams, but I recently visited the hospital and was diagnosed with high uric acid levels. I would like to ask, is it okay for someone with high uric acid to eat clams? Are there any precautions I should take?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Yang Ziqi
Patients with high uric acid levels should avoid consuming clams, primarily because clams are a type of seafood containing high levels of purines. Purines are metabolized into uric acid within the human body. If uric acid levels are already elevated, consuming high-purine foods such as clams may further increase uric acid levels. Prolonged high uric acid levels may not only trigger acute gout attacks, characterized by redness, swelling, heat, and pain in the joints but also place additional strain on the kidneys, increasing the risk of kidney stones and kidney damage. Therefore, to control uric acid levels and protect joint and kidney health, patients with high uric acid should avoid consuming clams and other high-purine seafood products as much as possible.
