Did you know that gout is the most common form of inflammatory arthritis in men? It affects 3.4 million American men, causing sometimes excruciating pain in the feet and joints.
A study by Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School brings conclusions that could reduce those numbers.
* Researchers discovered that partipants reduced their risk by decreasing their red meat and seafood consumption. Surprisingly, they found that every type of seafood was associated with increased risk.
* Consuming low-fat dairy products reduced risk. This is the first study to show that dairy products are strongly protective.
The doctors say that if men heed these two rules, they could reduce their risk of developing gout by half. Study subjects — 47,150 men with no history of gout — were followed for 12 years.
Avoiding alcohol and maintaining appropriate body weight are always advised.
