Vitamin C May Help Reduce Incidences of Gout

Gout occurs when extra uric acid in the body forms crystals in the joints. Symptoms include severe pain, redness, and swelling in joints. A recent study has found that vitamin C may help reduce the incidence of gout.

Participants in the study included 14,641 males with an average age of 64. They were given 500 mg of vitamin C daily or 400 IU’s of vitamin E every other day. Participants were followed for 10 years, and all new diagnoses of gout were recorded.

Participants in the vitamin C group saw a 12% reduction in new gout diagnoses. The reductions were greatest among participants with a BMI greater than 25. No association was found between supplementation with vitamin E and new gout diagnoses.

The study was conducted by researchers from Harvard Medical School. It was published online ahead of print on May 16, 2022 in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

A previous study found that higher levels of vitamin C may be linked to better metabolic health.