Can patients with gout drink white liquor?
Disease description:
My father has always liked drinking alcohol in the past, and his gout has not been completely cured. He also likes to drink some white spirits occasionally. I would like to ask, can patients with gout drink white spirits?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Yang Ziqi
Patients with gout should not consume white spirits (baijiu), mainly for the following reasons:
1. Alcohol affects uric acid excretion: The alcohol in white spirits interferes with the kidneys' normal excretion of uric acid, leading to elevated uric acid levels in the blood, which may trigger or worsen gout symptoms.
2. Promotes uric acid production: During its metabolism, alcohol produces lactic acid, which inhibits the renal tubules' excretion of uric acid, further promoting its accumulation in the body.
3. Increases liver burden: Excessive intake of alcohol from white spirits places additional strain on the liver, impairing its metabolism and excretion of uric acid, thus negatively affecting gout control.
4. White spirits are not low-purine beverages: Although some opinions suggest that white spirits do not contain high levels of purines, the alcohol content still impacts patients with gout, and high-concentration alcoholic beverages are more likely to cause fluctuations in uric acid levels.
