Can people with gout eat seafood?

Patients with gout should primarily avoid foods high in purines. Seafood is strictly prohibited for gout patients—especially during acute gouty arthritis flares—because most seafood items are extremely rich in purines and may exacerbate symptoms. Gout patients are advised to follow a low-purine diet and to abstain from smoking and alcohol consumption. During active disease episodes, patients should seek evaluation and management at an internal medicine department of a hospital, where treatment—including uric acid–lowering and analgesic medications—should be administered under physician supervision.