Just one beer a day could raise your risk of getting gout, concerning new research today suggested.
Scientists, analysing health records of 400,000 Brits, found men who downed a pint daily were 60 per cent more likely to suffer the agonising joint disease.
This risk of gout, which is a type of arthritis, was even more pronounced among women, at 62 per cent.
Historically it was known as ‘the disease of kings’ because it hit middle-aged men and was thought to be caused by overindulgence on rich foods and wine, such as port.
Monarchs including King Henry the VIII and Queen Victoria both suffered from it — however it was rare and reserved for the affluent who could afford such diets.
Men who downed a pint daily are 60 per cent more likely to suffer gout. This risk was even more pronounced among women, at 62 per cent
The UK’s wine consumption has soared: It now accounts for over a third of all alcohol consumed across the country and sits almost level with beer
In recent decades, due to increased availability of high fat, sugar and salt foods there has been an increase in diagnoses that has concerned medics.
Severe cases have surged — more than 200,000 are hospitalised with it each year — with studies suggesting binge-eating and exercising less have played a part.
According to Arthritis UK 1.5million people in Britain have the debilitating condition.
Gout is an inflammatory reaction to urate crystals that form in and around the joints — and primarily affects the feet.
Urate is a byproduct of the body digesting a substance called purine, a chemical found in high levels in certain foods.
Red meat, offal like liver, seafood, alcoholic and also sugary drinks are potential sources.
In the new study, researchers tracked the drinking habits of 401,128 Brits aged between 37 and 73 and free of gout.
Over a follow-up of 13 years, the scientists discovered the risk of gout rose the more beer people consume.
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.
No level of port consumption, however. resulted in a significant increase in the risk of gout, data show.
But the scientists also found that no amount of alcohol was actually able to reduce the risk of gout.
Among other drinks, one glass of red wine per day increased the likelihood of developing gout by 12 per cent among men, they said.
By comparison, this was not shown to raise the risk among women.
White wine and champagne also slightly raised the gout risk in both sexes.
Writing in the journal, JAMA Network Open, the scientists from Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, said beer and cider may be worse because they contain a high level purines.
These get broken down into uric acid in the body.
‘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,’ they said.
According to Arthritis UK 1.5million people in Britain suffer from the debilitating condition.
Experts said many spent more time sitting down during the Covid lockdowns and might have eaten more snacks and junk food while working from home.
Along with modern diets, the condition which is also linked to being overweight and it can be caused by medications, like those designed to tackle high blood pressure.
Leading experts have rowed about the harms of moderate drinking for decades.
It came under the spotlight last year when WHO officials warned that no amount of alcohol is safe.
The NHS recommends people drink no more than 14 ‘units’ of alcohol — around six glasses of wine, or pints of beer — per week
The NHS recommends people drink no more than 14 ‘units’ of alcohol — around six glasses of wine, or pints of beer — per week.
This itself has been watered down over the past few decades in light of studies illustrating the health dangers of alcohol.
Meanwhile, the US says women should drink no more than seven standard drinks a week and men can have 14.
These measures include a medium-sized glass of wine and 340ml of beer, close to a regular bottle size.
