Can patients with gout drink red wine or huangjiu (Chinese rice wine)?
Disease description:
A few days ago, I experienced persistent pain throughout my body and went to the hospital for an examination, where I was diagnosed with gout. Recently, however, I need to travel for business negotiations, and alcohol consumption is sometimes unavoidable. May I ask: Is it safe for individuals with gout to drink red wine or huangjiu (Chinese rice wine)?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Yang Xirui
Patients with gout should avoid alcohol consumption—including red wine and beer—as alcohol intake elevates serum uric acid levels, thereby exacerbating gout symptoms. Patients should maintain adequate hydration and follow a low-purine diet, avoiding high-purine foods to reduce the frequency of gout flare-ups. Under a physician’s guidance, pharmacologic treatment may include uricosuric agents (to promote uric acid excretion), xanthine oxidase inhibitors (to suppress uric acid production), and colchicine.
