Just one pint of beer a day increases your risk of agonising Tudor disease by 62%, experts warn

JUST one pint of beer each day could increase your risk of gout, a study has revealed

Scientists in China found the popular tipple can increase the risk of the agonising disease 60 per cent in men and 62 per cent in women.

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On the bright side, a glass of port might be a better choice, as it doesn’t carry the same risk, they have suggested.

Gout is often called ‘the disease of kings’ because it mainly struck middle-aged men with lavish lifestyles who indulged in rich foods and wine.

Even King Henry VIII dealt with it – hence why it’s also known as a Tudor disease.

In recent years, cases have started to rise, with gout now affecting about one in 40 people in the UK.

This not-so-historic disease is a form of inflammatory arthritis that causes severe pain and swelling in the joints.

It usually starts with a severely painful, red and hot pain in the big toe.

It can then spread to the rest of our feet and hands until it becomes disabling.

Postmenopausal women and men over 30 are most prone to the condition.

Gout is caused by the accumulation of uric acid in the blood and tissues, which forms crystals.

If these crystals get into a joint, they can trigger inflammation.

The study’s authors, from China’s Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, said that beer and cider may be the worst drinks for gout risk.

This is because they contain a high level of chemicals called purines, which get broken down into uric acid in the body.

Bacon, turkey, sardines, haddock and offal all contain high levels of purines and should therefore be avoided by gout sufferers to prevent flare-ups, scientists say.

In the new study, published in Jama Network Open, looked at how different booze affected gout risk.

The researchers tracked the drinking habits of 401,128 Brits aged between 37 and 73 free of gout. 

Over 13 years, the scientists discovered the risk of gout rose the more beer people consume. 

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A man who drank two or three pints a week on average had an 18 per cent higher chance of getting gout than a non-drinker.

This risk more than doubled in those downing more than seven pints a week.

White wine and champagne were also found to slightly raise the chance of gout in both sexes.

However fortified wine, like port, did not increase the risk of the painful foot condition.

“These findings suggest that specific alcoholic beverages are associated with a similar risk of gout for men and women and that alcohol consumption should be minimised for gout prevention regardless of sex,”  the scientists wrote in the paper.

“In this prospective cohort study with a careful consideration of potential confounding and reverse causation, consumption of several specific alcoholic beverages was associated with a higher risk of gout among both sexes.

“The observed sex-specific difference in the association of total alcohol consumption with incident gout may be owing to differences between men and women in the types of alcohol consumed rather than biological differences.”

HOW IS GOUT TREATED?

Gout can come back every few months or years, flaring up more often if you don’t treat it.

If you have frequent attacks or high levels of uric acid in your blood, you may need to take uric acid-lowering medicine.

You can usually treat attacks of gout with pain killers like ibuprofen.

But if the pain and swelling does not improve you may be given steroids as tablets or an injection.

The NHS advises you rest and raise your limb, keep the joint cool with an ice pack or bag of frozen peas, drink plenty of water and try to keep bedclothes off your sore spot at night.

In the long term, you should try to lose weight if you are overweight – but don’t fall into the trap of crash diets.

The NHS also recommends you eat a healthy diet, following your doctor’s advice on which foods to include or limit.

It’s important to limit the amount of sugary snacks and drinks and fatty foods you consume.

Cutting down on booze can be a good idea, making sure you have a few alcohol-free days a week or not having more than 14 units.

Finally, exercising regularly, staying hydrated and quitting smoking can help you manage gout flare-ups.