Are people with gout unable to eat tofu and seafood?
Disease description:
Recently, my friend was diagnosed with gout, and I would like to bring something to visit him. May I ask if people with gout should avoid eating tofu and seafood?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Yang Tiesheng
Gout patients should pay attention to reducing purine intake in their diet and try to avoid seafood, while tofu can be consumed in moderation.
Gout is a disease caused by hyperuricemia, and both tofu and seafood are foods high in purines. Purines are metabolized in the body into uric acid; therefore, gout patients need to limit the intake of high-purine foods. Although tofu is made from soybeans, which have a relatively high purine content, legumes generally have moderate to low purine levels compared to meat, seafood, and organ meats. In addition, the gastrointestinal tract does not absorb purines from legumes very extensively. Therefore, patients whose blood uric acid levels are not particularly elevated or who do not experience frequent episodes of arthritis may consume tofu in moderation. In contrast, shellfish, shrimp, crab, and other types of seafood have very high purine content. They should be strictly avoided during acute gout attacks and consumed cautiously during remission periods. It is recommended to choose low-purine fish. Since seafood is high in purines, its consumption may elevate uric acid levels in the body, potentially triggering acute gout attacks. Therefore, gout patients should avoid eating seafood.
