High Protein Intake Raises Gout Risk as 9.2 Million U.S. Adults Already Have It
Updated
Updated · GQ · Aug 15
High Protein Intake Raises Gout Risk as 9.2 Million U.S. Adults Already Have It
3 articles · Updated · GQ · Aug 15
Summary
A routine blood test found the author had high uric acid, and a doctor linked it to roughly 200 grams of daily protein intake despite the author being fit and in his mid-30s.
Doctors said excess protein—especially red meat and some seafood—adds purines that convert to uric acid, which can form painful joint crystals and trigger gout.
Experts tied the risk to a broader protein-maxxing trend, noting gout affected 3.9% of U.S. adults, or 9.2 million people, in 2016, including 5.9 million men.
High protein intake can also raise kidney-stone risk, particularly uric acid stones with low hydration, while calcium oxalate stones may rise if protein-heavy diets crowd out calcium.
Dieticians said most people need far less protein than marketed, advising hydration, more fiber and calcium, and a mix of animal and plant proteins to limit uric acid buildup.