Public release date: 25-May-2007

Contact: Amy Molnar

John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Coffee consumption may lower blood uric acid levels -- the precursor of
gout

High uric acid levels in the blood are a precursor of gout, the most
common inflammatory arthritis in adult men. It is believed that coffee
and tea consumption may affect uric acid levels but only one study has
been conducted to date. A new large-scale study published in the June
2007 issue of Arthritis Care & Research
(http://www.interscience.wiley.com/journal/arthritiscare) examined the
relationship between coffee, tea, caffeine intake, and uric acid levels
and found that coffee consumption is associated with lower uric acid
levels but that this appears to be due to components other than
caffeine.

Coffee is one of the most widely consumed beverages in the world; more
than 50 percent of Americans drink it at the average rate of 2 cups per
day. Because of this widespread consumption, its potential effects have
important implications for public and individual health. Led by Hyon K.
Choi, of the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada, the
current study was based on the U.S. Third National Health and Nutrition
Examination Survey, conducted between 1988 and 1994. It included over
14,000 men and women at least 20 years old who consented to a medical
exam in which blood and urine specimens were obtained. Coffee and tea
consumption were determined based on responses to a food questionnaire
that assessed intake over the previous month. Researchers estimated the
amount of caffeine per cup of coffee or tea using data from the U.S.
Department of Agriculture.

The results showed that levels of uric acid in the blood significantly
decreased with increasing coffee intake, but not with tea intake. In
addition, there was no association between total caffeine intake from
beverages and uric acid levels. These results were similar to those
found in the only previous study on the topic, which was conducted in
Japan. Interestingly, there was an association between decaffeinated
coffee consumption and uric acid levels. "These findings suggest that
components of coffee other than caffeine contribute to the observed
inverse association between coffee intake and uric acid levels," the
researchers state.

A recent study found that coffee was associated lower C peptide levels
(a marker of insulin levels). The researchers in the current study
suggest that because there is a strong relationship between insulin
resistance and elevated uric acid levels, the decreased insulin levels
associated with coffee consumption may lead to lower uric acid levels.
Coffee is also a major source of chlorogenic acid, a strong
antioxidant, which may improve insulin sensitivity. Chlorogenic acid
also helps inhibit glucose absorption in the intestine; in another
study decaffeinated coffee seemed to delay intestinal absorption of
glucose and increase concentrations of glucagon-like peptide 1, which
is well known for its beneficial effects on insulin secretion and
action. The researchers note further that their results could be due to
an effect of non-caffeine components found in coffee, which would also
explain why coffee affected uric acid levels but tea did not.
###

Article: "Coffee, Tea, and Caffeine Consumption and Serum Uric Acid
Level: The Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey,"
Hyon K. Choi, Gary Curhan, Arthritis Care & Research, June 2007; 57:5;
(DOI: 10.1002/art.22762).

--
Dan Goodman
"You, each of you, have some special wild cards. Play with them.
Find out what makes you different and better. Because it is there,
if only you can find it." Vernor Vinge, _Rainbows End_
Journal http://dsgood.livejournal.com
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Links http://del.icio.us/dsgood

"Dan Goodman" wrote in message
t...
Public release date: 25-May-2007

Contact: Amy Molnar

John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Coffee consumption may lower blood uric acid levels -- the precursor of
gout

High uric acid levels in the blood are a precursor of gout, the most
common inflammatory arthritis in adult men. It is believed that coffee
and tea consumption may affect uric acid levels but only one study has
been conducted to date. A new large-scale study published in the June
2007 issue of Arthritis Care & Research
(http://www.interscience.wiley.com/journal/arthritiscare) examined the
relationship between coffee, tea, caffeine intake, and uric acid levels
and found that coffee consumption is associated with lower uric acid
levels but that this appears to be due to components other than
caffeine.


Saffron is supposed to help, too. But they also have medicine pills
available that do a nice job.

On Sat, 26 May 2007 12:26:09 GMT, "Gil Faver"
wrote:


"Dan Goodman" wrote in message
et...
Public release date: 25-May-2007

Contact: Amy Molnar

John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Coffee consumption may lower blood uric acid levels -- the precursor of
gout

High uric acid levels in the blood are a precursor of gout, the most
common inflammatory arthritis in adult men. It is believed that coffee
and tea consumption may affect uric acid levels but only one study has
been conducted to date. A new large-scale study published in the June
2007 issue of Arthritis Care & Research
(http://www.interscience.wiley.com/journal/arthritiscare) examined the
relationship between coffee, tea, caffeine intake, and uric acid levels
and found that coffee consumption is associated with lower uric acid
levels but that this appears to be due to components other than
caffeine.


Saffron is supposed to help, too. But they also have medicine pills
available that do a nice job.

My husband doesn't drink anything more caffinated than water. I
wonder where he fits into their studies?

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See return address to reply by email

Gil Faver wrote:

Saffron is supposed to help, too. But they also have medicine
pills available that do a nice job.

Saffron comes from the crocus, and the corm (bulb)
of the crocus contains colchicine, which is an
effective anti-gout medicine. However, the
anthers (part of the saffron flower used in
cooking) does not contain a significant amount
of colchicine. And if it did, you would not
be able to self-medicate with it. Colchicine
is highly toxic in a large dose -- the dose must
be tightly controlled for therapeutic use.
The difference between a therapeutic dose and
a toxic dose is small -- i.e. colchicine has
a very low therapeutic index.

So - how is gout useful?
Your Subject: line says that it is "possibly useful". Please explain.