Gout and Potassium

Potassium deficiency is deeply involved in gout as an accentuating factor because uric acid is less soluble in acidic urine. Potassium bicarbonate supplements will reverse this. You may see this discussed in a book about potassium nutrition as it relates to heart disease, gout, rheumatoid arthritis diabetes, hypertension, diabetes, and metabolic shock (high blood potassium) available in http://charles_w.tripod.com/book.html along with the table of contents introduction, and first two chapters. In view of the fact that this is not considered by current rheumatologists, it would be very valuable for you to bring it into your future writing. It is not only that potassium is not considered by physicians in regard to gout, many of them do not even believe that a potassium deficiency is likely. This even though many of them prescribe what are actually supplements, but prescribed under euphemistic terms such as salt substitutes, sodium free baking powder, ORT salts (oral rehydration therapy for diarrhea), polarizing solutions, GIK (glucose, insulin, potassium) salts, vegetables, or glucosamine. A deficiency is further defined out of existence by defining the blood serum content normal as 4.2 when the actual figure is 4.8. For gout, though, the chloride is not acceptable. But potassium bicarbonate powder dissolved in fruit juice or half teaspoon sprinkled on cereal will work very well. It may be obtained from businesses which add it to wine.
Sincerely, Charles Weber

Thanks so much for that information. I will definitely be looking up the reference to that book. I have been amazed at how little interest there seems to be in the connection between gout and potassium levels. Your reply is the one and only reply, and I made that comment almost a year ago. I would think that a person who is having problems with gout would love to have a solution that didn't involve those drugs the doctors usually give for gout. Strange. . .

Dear Susana,
It should not be necessary to get a doctors prescription if the blood contents is under 4.8 milliequivalents of potassium. There are enormous amounts of potassium in unprocessed diets (more than 3500 milligrams). To carry that proposal to its logical conclusion, one should get a prescription to eat food. I guarantee that no one will stop eating until they get a prescription. Potassium pills are dangerous because they can become lodged in an intestinal fold. A half a teaspoon of potassium bicarbonate sprinkled on cereal or dissolved in fruit juice should be as safe as anything in our life. It can be obtained through Google as a wine additive. Several teaspoons would be necessary to reach the potassium intake of South American Indians. The only danger I know of is that it will trigger heart disease of beri-beri if vitamin B-1 is deficient (see http://charles_w.tripod.com/kandthiamin.ht ml ).