Koffie
vermindert kans op jicht*
Mensen
die vier of meer koppen koffie per dag drinken hebben 40% minder kans op jicht
dan mensen die slechts één of geen kop per dag drinken. Dat blijkt uit een
onderzoek van twee grote studies over urinezuurgehaltes in het bloed. De ene
studie bekeek 46.000 mannen gedurende 12 jaar en de andere studie 14.000 mannen
en vrouwen gedurende 6 jaar. Jicht is een aandoening die wordt veroorzaakt
doordat een teveel aan urinezuur in het bloed uitkristalliseert in de
gewrichten. Bij koffiedrinkers word een duidelijk lager urinezuurgehalte
gemeten. Dit geldt ook voor drinkers van cafeïnevrije koffie, maar niet voor
thee, wat doet vermoeden dat het effect niet wordt veroorzaakt door cafeïne.
Lage urinezuurgehaltes verlagen de kans op jicht dus flink doch hoge
urinezuurgehaltes veroorzaken niet altijd jicht, want veel mensen met verhoogde
waarden krijgen geen jicht.
Coffee
appears to lower the risk of gout
According
to the latest research, men who drink several cups of coffee a day reduce their
risk of gout.
Canadian
scientists suggest that drinking 6 cups of coffee a day can cut the incidence of
the disease in men at risk by 40 percent.
The
scientists at the University of British Columbia reached this conclusion after
looking at the data from two studies, where uric acid levels were measured.
One
study over a 12 year period involved 46,000 men, while the other looked at
14,000 men and women over a 6 year period.
The
researchers found that while tea did not have an effect on reducing gout,
decaffeinated coffee consumption did, which they say indicates that it is
unlikely that it is the caffeine in the beverage that keeps uric acid levels
down.
Gout
is a form of inflammatory arthritis, which commonly affects people in their
large toe; more men than women are affected by the disease.
The
symptoms of gout are often joint pains in the lower limbs, which happen when
uric acid crystallises out of the blood into the joints; it has been suggested
in the past that the drinking of excessive amounts of beer, or eating too much
red meat are thought to cause many cases.
Treatment
usually involves anti-inflammatory drugs, a change in diet and drinking more
water; in severe cases, powerful drugs are given to reduce uric acid levels in
the blood.
Lead
researcher Dr. Hyon Choi says while coffee intake may be beneficial in the
prevention and management of gout people are not advised to start drinking lots
of coffee in order to avoid gout.
The
researchers say there is an established link between higher insulin levels and
higher uric acid levels; they believe that coffee lowers the insulin levels in
the blood.
The
results support the findings of a previous but smaller, Japanese study.
Experts
however say that high blood uric acid levels does not always cause gout and many
people with elevated uric acid levels throughout life never have an attack of
gout.
Coffee
is one of the most widely consumed beverages in the world and almost half the
U.S. population drink 2 cups each day.
The
research is published in the June issue of Arthritis Care and Research.
(Juni 2007)