Logically, if a causes b then the presence of a must cause b to occur, and the absence of a must cause b not to occur. Gout has been blamed on the consumption of high purine diet. But most people with high level of uric acid do not have gout in their life time; whereas people who have normal or low uric acid level like vegetarians do get gout. What then is the logic behind the claim that high purine diet causes gout?

There are more gout attacks after thanksgiving. Of course, people point to the dark turkey meat for causing the trouble. Is turkey really to blame? First of all, high purine diet do not always cause gout attacks. Secondly, people who are on strictly low purine diet can reduce only about 1 mg /dl of uric acid level in the blood (normal, 2.5~7 mg/dl); and, low uric acid level does not immune us from gout. Thirdly, a turkey dinner is unlikely to raise the uric acid level suddenly and significantly enough to cause the shedding of the coatings on urate (msu) crystals to trigger gout. Why then there are more gout attacks after thanksgiving? It's because of the alcohol beverage and the very acidic cranberry sauce (ph= 2.5-3.0) that go with the dinner. Have small portions of drink and cranberry sauce and enjoy turkey in peace.

Happy thanksgiving.