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Written by Brandon Okey. Mina Draskovic, B.Psy., reviewed this content for accuracy.
According to research, in 2015-2016, 3.9% of American adults were affected by gout. For the millions who suffer from this condition, we answer the question that asks “can alcohol make gout worse?”.
The causes of gout range from genetic predisposition to diet and obesity, but alcohol consumption definitely doesn’t help with this chronic inflammatory condition. In fact, alcohol may exacerbate inflammation in the body, worsen the symptoms of gout, and trigger even more painful flare-ups.
Are you struggling with alcohol addiction? You can count on our rehab center in Provo, Utah to provide you with everything you need to kick your drinking habit. Our caring and supportive staff can support you through the recovery stages, from alcohol detox to recovery programs and beyond.
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Gout is a common yet very painful type of inflammatory arthritis. It arises when excess uric acid builds up in the bloodstream, causing urate crystals to deposit in the joints and other tissues. Uric acid is a waste product of the natural breakdown of certain compounds. Uric acid turns into crystals that trigger intense inflammation and swelling in the affected area.
Gout is also called hyperuricemia because of the excess uric acid buildup. Here’s a step-by-step look at how gout develops:
The base of the big toe is the most frequent site of flare-ups that come and go. Gout attacks typically build up over 24 hours, persist for days to weeks if left untreated, and then subside until the next flare-up.
Gout symptoms range in severity and duration. Most of them are centered around intense inflammation, swelling, and pain. Symptoms tend to deteriorate and peak over the span of 8–12 hours after their initial onset.
The hallmark features of an acute gout attack include:
While one area generally suffers an isolated attack, some people experience polyarticular flares that afflict multiple joints at once. Gout attacks typically resolve after pain or swelling peaks in a few days, either on their own or through medical treatment.
If uric acid levels are not properly controlled over time, chronic gout can cause significant damage in multiple joints. But what exactly causes the formation of uric acid-creating purines in the first place?
Many factors can set the stage for the accumulation of uric acid in your body, which is the main precursor to the development of gout. The following factors either increase the production of uric acid or reduce breakdown and elimination.
Alcohol is a significant trigger for gout flare-ups. Luckily, booze is an adjustable lifestyle factor. Ditch drinking so your health can recover, and put those flare-ups behind you for good.
If you’re struggling to remain sober, our alcohol addiction treatment center can offer the help, support, and knowledge you need to take care of your body.
Alcohol consumption can increase the risk of incident gout and exacerbate its symptoms. The culprit is ethanol, the main constituent of alcohol. It carries potent inflammatory and dehydrating properties that negatively impact a wide range of bodily systems and contribute to the development of gout.
Heavy drinking may not only increase the risk of gout flare, but also directly trigger recurrent flare-ups. Let’s deep dive into the harmful effects of alcohol on gout.
Some alcoholic drinks are high in purines. The Arthritis Foundation claims that all types of alcoholic beverages are high in purines.
Episodic alcohol intake triggers gout attacks, regardless of type of alcohol. Thus, individuals with established gout and pre-existing risk factors should limit all types of alcohol intake to prevent gout episodes. (Nieradko-Iwanicka)
Beer tops the list with far higher purine content than other beverages, but there are others that you should avoid if you’re prone to gout attacks.
Medical News Today reports that alcohol is not only rich in purines but also prevents uric acid from leaving the body.
Your kidneys play a vital role in filtering the blood of excess uric acid. Heavy drinking strains the kidneys and interferes with the filtering process, leading to uric acid buildup.
Similar to alcohol, illicit drugs such as cocaine, amphetamines, and opioid abuse can also trigger or exacerbate gout. The general reason for this is the fact that alcohol and drugs ruin your kidneys, which indirectly increases uric acid production.
Read more about what drug addiction does to your kidneys.
The complex process of alcohol metabolism releases harmful byproducts that increase levels of uric acid. Together, they boost inflammation, prolong gout flare-ups, and decrease the kidneys’ efficiency in filtering the blood.
Regular exposure to alcohol increases and accelerates cell death. As cells expand, replicate, and die off at higher rates, they release intracellular components such as nucleic DNA or RNA. These compounds contain purine bases, the core building blocks for the synthesis of uric acid.
One study found that ethanol and acetate increase purine nucleotide degradation by enhancing the turnover of the adenine nucleotide pool.
Extra cell generation and destruction when alcohol is present makes your metabolic pathways struggle to convert the sudden influx of purines into uric acid. The result is increased inflammation and build-up of uric acid crystals that cause joint pain.
This DNA-level damage makes avoiding alcohol imperative for people with gout. You’d be surprised at what kind of damaging effects booze has on DNA.
Too much booze has the potential to pack on extra pounds—and that’s a serious double whammy when it comes to gout.
Alcohol metabolism overwhelms the liver. Instead of burning calories and getting rid of excess fat, your body is stuck breaking down alcohol. That’s how you gain substantial weight over time. Research shows that obesity impairs kidney function and blood flow. Throw alcohol into the mix, and your kidneys become too overwhelmed to filter out that gout-provoking uric acid.
Not to mention how all that excess weight places further strain on your already irritated joints, intensifying the agony of gout attacks. A 2020 study found that “each 5 kg/m2 BMI increment was associated with a 55% elevated risk of gout.”
Given alcohol’s extensive impacts on joint irritation, it might be a good idea to rethink drinking altogether. If you’re struggling with excessive alcohol consumption, don’t hesitate to seek professional help. Ardu is here for you every step of the way.
The symptoms of gout flares triggered by alcohol are typically no different than attacks caused by other factors. Occasional drinkers and long-term alcoholics experience intense pain, swelling, redness, inflammation, and tenderness in their big toes, ankles, knees, or wrists.
However, there are a few important differences:
Are you drinking too much? Your body can show physical symptoms of alcohol addiction that may not have anything to do with gout.
For people caught in the destructive cycle of addiction, alcoholism without question makes gout worse over time. Unlike an occasional drink here and there, alcoholism repeatedly spikes blood alcohol levels, placing a constant burden on your liver and kidneys. (You need those to work properly if you want to avoid recurrent gout attacks.)
Occasional drinking can impair the function of your organs, but imagine what chronic heavy drinking does to your body. The organs of heavy drinkers and alcoholics have a crippled ability to regulate fluids, produce energy, clear toxins, and perform other important duties that keep gout-inciting uric acid in check.
Remember how alcohol accelerates cell turnover and purine release, which boosts the production of uric acid? In alcoholics, cells replicate and die off at accelerated rates. Purine-rich nucleic cellular debris floods the system, causing a spike in uric acid and those painful urate crystals that affect your joints.
That’s why alcoholics experience far more frequent and severe gout attacks.
While an occasional drink may not be a huge problem, if you want the best odds of overcoming gout, it would be wise to abstain from alcohol altogether. In the long run, alcohol is bad for your brain, liver, kidneys, heart, immune system, skin… The list is endless. The decision to end alcohol dependency isn’t an easy one, but it truly is life-changing.
Contact the experts at Ardu Recovery Center and take your first steps toward a new life.
It’s generally a bad idea to drink any alcohol during an acute gout attack. An occasional drink may not always trigger gout for some people, but excessive alcohol concentrations in the blood during an active flare can be too risky.
Here’s why:
It’s best to stay away from drinking until gout symptoms fully resolve and uric acid levels stabilize. Even better—stay away from alcohol for good and never worry about its damaging effects on your body again. Some alcohol damage is reversible, but your best bet is to quit drinking while you’re ahead.
When you eliminate alcohol, you may be able to resolve gout attacks and potentially achieve long-term remission. Remember how alcohol triggers inflammatory processes on top of gout-induced? Once you take ethanol out of the picture, the amount of irritation and the accumulation of uric acid should be reduced.
Here’s what happens to chronic gout episodes when you stop drinking:
It’s always a good idea for your overall health to cut alcohol out of your life. Your kidneys, liver, heart, pancreas, and other vital organs will thank you.
We now know how alcohol increases the levels of uric acid in the blood, and how this leads to gout. But for some people, when they stop drinking, their bodies may undergo several changes that could potentially trigger a gout attack.
There are a few reasons why halting alcohol intake can trigger painful flares.
Don’t let this dishearten you: the best thing you can do for your health is to quit alcohol. In the short term, quitting may trigger a gout attack. Look at the bigger picture—the absence of ethanol may help reduce the frequency and severity of gout attacks and lead to an overall improvement in health. If you experience gout attacks after you stop drinking, consult with a healthcare professional and learn how to manage your symptoms safely and prevent future flare-ups.
Ardu can help you detox safely from alcohol and set the stage for long-term gout remission and a return to health.
Anyone struggling with alcohol abuse or alcoholism is welcome to take part in our addiction treatment program. Our recovery center is for people seeking help to overcome alcohol addiction and restore their physical and mental health. Our dedicated team of professionals is here to guide and support you in the addiction treatment process, laying the foundation for long-term sobriety and relapse prevention.
At our rehab center in Provo, Utah, our team specializes in helping those with dual diagnoses: addiction and concurrent health issues. We provide:
To enroll in an Ardu alcohol rehab program, contact us online or via phone (801-810-1234). We will do our best to find a recovery path that works for you during the detox process and beyond. For more information, read our admissions process page.
Getting proper treatment empowers you to manage alcoholism while implementing lifestyle changes to improve health. With compassion and expertise, we can help you achieve lasting sobriety and wellness.
Brandon Okey is the co-founder of Ardu Recovery Center and is dedicated to empowering people on their journey to sobriety.
According to epidemiologic studies and meta-analyses, alcohol does not limit or decrease gout risk. A 2014 study showed that alcohol intake can exacerbate gout by increasing urate production.
Episodic alcohol consumption, regardless of type of alcoholic beverage, was associated with an increased risk of recurrent gout attacks, including potentially with moderate amounts. Persons with gout should limit alcohol intake of all types to reduce the risk of recurrent gout attacks.
This positive correlation was strongest with beer intake, followed by liquor consumption. Subjects in the study drinking four or more daily alcoholic beverage equivalents had a risk of gout that was twofold those who abstained during the preceding 24-hour period.
Whiskey is not beneficial for uric acid levels or gout risk. As a type of liquor, whiskey has consistently been linked to increased serum urate production and blood levels. Neogi et al. found that subjects consuming liquor had a 1.6-fold increased risk of developing incident gout compared to wine drinkers or non-drinkers in age-adjusted models. This suggests that whiskey can also contribute to acute arthritis flare-ups in those with established gout due to spikes in urate levels.
Moderation seems to be key if those with gout want to consume whiskey. 2 standardized drink servings daily appear safe for men, and 1 serving daily for women, without causing increased arthritis attacks. According to a Clin Rheumatol analysis, staying away from alcohol altogether seems to be the best solution for gout (and other health issues).
Some analyses have found that consuming moderate quantities of red wine does not increase gout risk or urate levels. A large prospective study following over 47,000 men for 12 years had subjects report their average alcoholic beverage intake over the preceding year. They found no association between moderate red wine intake, classified as 2 or fewer 4 oz glasses daily, and risk of incident gout diagnosis.
These effects of alcohol intake point to the potential for non-alcoholic components in wine to offset uric acid excretion. Specifically, polyphenols found predominantly in wine demonstrate uricosuric effects in rat studies. Additional research is still needed to confirm if similar beneficial effects translate to humans with gout. Until then, rheumatoid arthritis guidelines caution restricting even moderate red wine intake during acute gouty arthritis flares to help control joint inflammation.
An effective gout detox plan involves a multi-pronged approach to lower serum urate levels. Lifestyle changes play a key role, such as:
Dietary adjustments also aid in urate reduction. These include increased intake of plant fiber sources, tart cherry products, skim milk dairy, certain supplements like vitamin C with uricosuric properties, and limiting sugar-sweetened beverages associated with higher gout incidence.
It’s important to seek input from a rheumatologist or dietician that will include personalizing and monitoring medical therapy while incorporating these detoxifying lifestyle approaches to effectively manage gout and control symptomatic flares.
There is limited research analyzing vodka’s effects on gout risk and urate levels specifically. Several epidemiologic studies have consistently linked liquor intake, regardless of type, with increased gout risk and serum urate levels. Even if vodka itself does not contain purines, data suggests it likely induces similar increases in uric acid production and reduces excretion comparable to other liquors through its alcohol content and dehydrating effects.
For those with high baseline urate levels or pre-existing gout, maintenance of hyperuricemia could worsen disease progression and provoke painful arthritis flares. Moderation seems to be the key if you can’t help yourself drinking vodka. Limit your intake to one or fewer standardized drink servings per day, or avoid it altogether during acute gout attacks.
Several large epidemiologic studies have demonstrated clear positive correlations between beer intake and hyperuricemia as well as the development of primary gout. Of all alcoholic beverage types analyzed, beer consumption shared the strongest association with elevated uric acid measures and gout risk—even when adjusting for total alcohol intake. This effect is attributed to the high brewer’s yeast and grain content of most beers introducing purines that generate uric acid production.
A cross-sectional analysis found that men consuming over 2 beers daily had an odds ratio of 3.07 for hyperuricemia and 1.77 for gout incidence relative to those drinking none. This suggests that even moderate daily beer intake promotes chronically higher urate levels. Those with asymptomatic hyperuricemia and particularly patients with tophaceous gout are better off avoiding regular beer and ale intake.
There is no clear evidence that low to moderate wine consumption can cause the onset or worsening of hyperuricemia or gout in studies conducted thus far. Most analyses have observed a non-linear relationship: heavy and excessive wine intake shows positive associations with recurring gout attacks and can provoke arthritis flares. Modest consumption within limits (1 glass for women, 1-2 glasses for men) has not demonstrated clear links to directly causing primary gout or persistently raising uric acid.
Overall there is consensus among experts that patients with gout can safely consume limited wine servings per day and restrict intake during acute attacks. Those with recurrent arthritis flares may need to abstain due to indirect triggers.
For people with co-occurring hypertension and gout, alcohol intake poses added risks. Alcohol may contribute to the development of hypertension—heavy consumption promotes spikes in systolic blood pressure as well as diastolic blood pressure, worsens hypertension control, and increases the likelihood of developing medication-resistant high blood pressure.
Alcohol-induced hypertension can further compound inflammation and pain in those with inflammatory arthritis. Recent epidemiologic data highlights gout as a potential risk factor for myocardial infarction, stroke, and premature cardiovascular death irrespective of traditional risk factors like hypertension.
A 2006 study found that “hyperuricemia and gouty arthritis are independent risk factors for acute myocardial infarction (MI), even when accounting for renal function, diuretic use, metabolic syndrome, and other established risk factors.”
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Safe Foods for Gout | Arthritis Foundation. (n.d.). https://www.arthritis.org/health-wellness/healthy-living/nutrition/healthy-eating/which-foods-are-safe-for-gout
Nieradko-Iwanicka, B. (2021, April 19). The role of alcohol consumption in pathogenesis of gout. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, 62(25), 7129–7137. https://doi.org/10.1080/10408398.2021.1911928
Sissons, B. (2023, July 24). How does wine affect gout, and is it safe to drink? https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/gout-and-wine
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