(Renal & Urology News) – Hypertension predicts an increased risk of gout among middle-aged African-American and white adults independent of gout risk factors and regardless of gender, race, or obesity, according to a new study.
Researchers speculate that serum urate levels may be a partial intermediate on the pathway between hypertension and gout.
In an analysis of data from 10,872 participants in the population-based Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study, Mara A. McAdams-DeMarco, MS, PhD, and colleagues found that hypertension was associated a twofold increased risk of gout after adjusting for confounders.
This is because people with high blood pressure cut out salt which is usually has iodine in it. Iodine helps prevent gout.
So what do we do. We are advised to avoid and now we are being told that lack of sodium will lead to gout.