Eat What You Want this Holiday Season

Hello Gout Education,

The Gout Education Society is committed to raising awareness of gout—the most common form of inflammatory arthritis and how to manage it for the long term. The Society offers a variety of free, unbiased resources at GoutEducation.org to help you learn more about gout and treatment options.

This month, the Society is bringing attention to the impact of diet when it comes to gout management. It's no secret that specific foods can trigger flares. In fact, most people think of food first as the triggering event.

What are the most common food and drink items that can cause flares?

• Meats such as lamb, pork and beef
• Drinks such as beer, grain liquor, wine and soft drinks
• Seafood such as shellfish, shrimp and lobster
• Processed and fried foods

Abstinence from these food and drink choices, however, may be unnecessary if your uric acid levels are under 6.0 mg/dL and you're not experiencing regular flares...but moderation is key. It's okay to enjoy a steak every once in a while; just reduce the portion size and perhaps go for an extra serving of vegetables.

But what are the options for lowering your uric acid level so you can enjoy these items in moderation? Typically, the gold-standard method to reduce uric acid levels are urate-lowering therapies (ULTs). Options for ULTs that you may encounter include:

• Allopurinol
• Febuxostat
• Probenecid

In both cases of diet and treatment options for uric acid levels, it's important to talk to your doctor to build a plan that works for you. You can learn more about these topics through the updated brochure on our website and order a printed copy, free of charge.

Have any questions or need resources? Email us: [email protected].

Featured Cartoon

Don't let gout flares ruin your holidays. Talk to your doctor today to get your uric acid level below 6.0 mg/dL.



New Blog: Demystifying Gout: Not Just About Foods

By: Gary Ho, Gout Support Group of America

Recently, Gary Ho, who has been managed his gout for more than 20 years, wrote a blog post on myths surrounding the disease and tips for those suffering.

Read more about his approach in our latest blog post.

Co-founder of the Gout Support Group of America, Gary spent more than 15 years dealing with the disease before taking charge of the disease. Founded in 2015, the Gout Support Group of America seeks to help those looking to manage the disease find helpful information and provide a platform to interact with the community.

Clinical Trial Opportunity: Have Hyperuricemia?

LG Chem is looking for 350 participants across several different regions to try out Tigulixostat, a medication designed to stop the enzyme that metabolizes purines. Purines are the compounds that become uric acid. When built up over time, this can cause hyperuricemia, which is the root cause of gout.

Tigulixostat is classified as a xanthine oxidase inhibitor, similar to allopurinol or febuxostat. The Phase 3 clinical trial intends to test the drug’s effectiveness for six months in people with hyperuricemia, versus those who are given a placebo.

Find out here if you are eligible to participate

Clinical Trial Seeks People with an Acute Gout Attack

Olatec Therapeutics is seeking participants for its Phase 2/3 clinical trial in patients with an acute gout flare. The objective of the clinical trial is to test an oral anti-inflammatory, called dapansutrile, which is an investigational drug not yet approved by FDA. The trial will assess the effectiveness of dapansutrile in treating inflammatory pain over 8 days in people with gout who are experiencing an acute gout attack versus those who are given a placebo. Rescue treatment is offered if pain remains intolerable while on study. 

The trial is seeking participants located throughout the USA and in Europe. 

To find out if you're eligible please visit clinicaltrials.gov and/or contact [email protected]

Clinical Trial Seeks People Around Houston

Advanced Rheumatology of Houston is seeking participants with diagnosed gout for research on treatment options for the disease. Participants must be willing to commit time for study visits at the practice's clinic in The Woodlands, Texas.

To find out if you are eligible or to sign up please contact Advanced Rheumatology of Houston at (936) 681 4882

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