Can people with gout eat silkworm pupae?
Disease description:
My father has gout, and when he went to get some Chinese herbal medicine to regulate his health condition recently, I noticed that there were silkworm pupae included. I would like to ask whether it is safe for someone with gout to consume silkworm pupae during a gout flare-up?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Yang Ziqi
Patients with gout should not consume silkworm pupae, primarily because silkworm pupae are high in purines. Every 100 grams of silkworm pupae contains approximately 150 milligrams of purines, far exceeding the recommended daily purine intake for patients with gout. Gout is a condition caused by a disorder in purine metabolism in the body, leading to elevated blood uric acid levels. Consuming high-purine foods can further increase uric acid levels, triggering or worsening symptoms of gout, such as joint pain and swelling. Therefore, to manage their condition, patients with gout must strictly limit their intake of high-purine foods, including silkworm pupae. At the same time, patients should also focus on consuming low-purine foods, such as fresh vegetables and fruits, to maintain stable uric acid levels.
