That’s the finding by researchers from Boston University School of Medicine reported during the American College of Rheumatology annual meeting.

First, the details.

• 535 adults with gout who had an attack in the past year were recruited over the Internet.
• They were asked to provide access to medical records pertaining to their gout diagnosis.
• Data were obtained on the amount of water consumed during the day before a gout attack and during periods when they were not having an attack.
• The relationship between the amount of water consumed — recorded as zero to 1, 2 to 4, 5, to 8, and more than 8 glasses per day — and the risk of recurrent gout attacks were evaluated.

And, the results.

• Those who drank 2 to 4 glasses of water a day tended to reduce their risk of gout attack by 18% — not significant compared with the lowest water consumption level.
• Those who drank 5 to 8 glasses of water a day achieved a 43% reduction in gout attacks, and drinking more than 8 glasses of water a day achieved a 48% reduction in gout episodes — a significant difference vs the lowest water consumption.

The bottom line?
According to the authors, “Drinking adequate water may be a simple, safe, and effective way for individuals with gout to prevent recurrent gout attacks, and can easily be recommended to patients with gout by healthcare providers.”

10/25/09 22:57 JR