Is Salmon a High Purine Food to Avoid with Gout?

Salmon is renowned as one of the healthiest fish you can eat. Rich in protein and heart-healthy omega-3s, salmon delivers a powerhouse nutrition profile. But for those with gout, a condition exacerbated by high purine foods, a key question arises: Is salmon a high purine food that should be limited or avoided?

To find out if you can eat salmon without feeling bad if you have gout, let’s look at how many purines it has.

What are Purines and Their Role in Gout?

First, a quick biology lesson Purines are natural compounds found in many foods that play a key role in cellular function and protein production When purines are broken down during digestion, they produce uric acid as a byproduct.

Gout is a type of inflammatory arthritis that happens when the body has too much uric acid. Gout causes painful swelling in joints, often starting in the big toe. Foods that are high in purines, like organ meats and shellfish, can cause gout attacks.

So for those prone to gout, paying attention to purine content can help avoid flare-ups.

Purine Content in Salmon

Most seafood contains moderate levels of purines However, salmon is one of the lower purine choices among fish and shellfish

Here are the key facts on the purine content of salmon

A 3 oz serving of salmon contains around 160-180 mg of purines
Per 100g, salmon contains about 150-180 mg of purines
Farmed Atlantic salmon tends to be on the lower end of that range

So while not completely low purine, salmon contains a relatively modest amount of purines compared to many other protein sources.

How Salmon Compares to Other High Purine Foods

To put salmon’s purine content in perspective, here is how it compares to other high purine foods:

Beef liver: 331 mg purines per 100g
Scallops: 250 mg per 100g
Anchovies: 230 mg per 100g
Salmon: 150-180 mg per 100g
Tofu: 100 mg per 100g
Asparagus: 80 mg per 100g

As you can see, salmon’s purine content is substantially lower than notoriously gout-provoking foods like organ meats and certain shellfish. It contains only moderately more purines than plant proteins like tofu.

Tips for Eating Salmon with Gout

While salmon is not extremely high in purines, it’s still smart to enjoy it in moderation as part of a gout diet:

Stick to reasonable 3-4 oz portions of salmon a few times a week at most. Avoid daily large servings.
Opt for wild caught salmon over farmed for better omega-3 content. But farmed has slightly fewer purines.
Bake, grill, or poach salmon instead of frying in oil to reduce fat.
Limit higher fat salmon like smoked salmon or gravlax as they are higher in purines.
Pair salmon with low purine veggies like lettuce, carrots, or spinach instead of purine-rich asparagus or mushrooms.

Other Low Purine Fish Choices

Salmon certainly doesn’t need to be avoided entirely on a gout-friendly diet. But for more variety, here are other great low purine fish options:

Flounder and sole: 100mg purines per 100g serving
Cod: Less than 110 mg per 100g
Catfish: About 120 mg per 100g
Rainbow trout: 130 mg per 100g
Tilapia: Around 140 mg per 100g

All of these provide plenty of protein with way less purines than high risk options like sardines, tuna, and herring.

Can Salmon Benefit Gout and Heart Health?

Emerging research shows salmon could do double duty by supporting heart health while helping manage gout. The key is salmon’s high omega-3 content.

One study found gout patients who consumed more omega-3s had a lower risk of gout attacks. Omega-3s are also tied to reduced inflammation in general.

Additionally, the American Heart Association endorses eating salmon and other omega-3-rich fish twice a week for cardiovascular benefits.

So while salmon is moderately high in purines, the pros of its omega-3 content for both gout and heart health likely outweigh the cons for most people.

Summary – Salmon Can Be Part of a Gout Diet

In conclusion, salmon contains a moderate amount of purines, but significantly less than the highest purine offenders. The American College of Rheumatology endorses eating 4-6 oz of low purine fish like salmon twice a week as part of a gout diet.

Salmon provides a nutritious protein source that delivers key omega-3 fats for gout and heart health benefits. Alongside plenty of fruits, veggies and low-fat dairy, salmon can be safely enjoyed in moderation by most with gout.

is salmon a high purine food

Gout diet: What’s allowed, what’s not

Starting a gout diet? Understand which foods are OK and which to avoid.

Gout is a painful type of arthritis that happens when the body has too much uric acid, which forms crystals in and around joints.

Uric acid is produced when the body breaks down a chemical called purine. Purine occurs naturally in your body, but its also found in certain foods. Uric acid is eliminated from the body in urine.

A gout diet may help decrease uric acid levels in the blood. A gout diet isnt a cure. But it may lower the risk of recurring gout attacks and slow the progression of joint damage.

People with gout who follow a gout diet usually still need to take painkillers and medicines to lower their uric acid levels.

A gout diet is designed to help you:

Achieve a healthy weight and good eating habits
Avoid some, but not all, foods with purines
Include some foods that can control uric acid levels

A good rule of thumb is to eat moderate portions of healthy foods.

The general principles of a gout diet follow typical healthy-diet recommendations:

Weight loss. Gout is more likely to happen if you are overweight, and less likely to happen if you lose weight. Research shows that cutting calories and losing weight can lower uric acid levels and the number of gout attacks, even if you are not on a purine-restricted diet. Losing weight also lessens the overall stress on joints.
Complex carbs. Eat more whole grains, fruits, and vegetables because they have complex carbs. Stay away from foods and drinks that contain high-fructose corn syrup, and drink less fruit juice that is naturally sweet.
Water. Stay well-hydrated by drinking water.
Fats. Lessen the amount of red meat, fatty poultry, and high-fat dairy products you eat.
Proteins. As protein sources, you should eat lean meat and poultry, low-fat dairy, and lentils.

Recommendations for specific foods or supplements include:

Organ and glandular meats. Stay away from meats like liver, kidney, and sweetbreads because they are high in purines and raise uric acid levels in the blood.
Red meat. Limit serving sizes of beef, lamb and pork.
Seafood. Anchovies, shellfish, sardines, and tuna are some of the seafood that have more purines than others. But people with gout may benefit more from eating fish in general than from the risks. People with gout can eat small amounts of fish as part of their diet.
High-purine vegetables. Studies have shown that vegetables like spinach and asparagus that are high in purines don’t make you more likely to get gout or have more attacks of it.
Alcohol. Beer and distilled liquors can make you more likely to get gout and have attacks more often. Moderate wine drinking doesn’t seem to make gout attacks more likely. If you have gout, don’t drink alcohol during attacks, and drink less alcohol, especially beer, between attacks.
Sugary foods and beverages. Sugary cereals, baked goods, and candies should be eaten less or not at all. Limit consumption of naturally sweet fruit juices.
Vitamin C. Vitamin C may help lower uric acid levels. Talk to your doctor about whether a 500-mg vitamin C supplement fits with what you already eat and take.
Coffee. Some studies show that drinking coffee in moderation, especially regular coffee with caffeine, may be linked to a lower risk of getting gout. If you have other health problems, you might not want to drink coffee. Talk to your doctor about how much coffee you can drink.
Cherries. Some evidence shows that eating cherries may lower your risk of having a gout attack.

Heres what you might eat during a typical day on a gout diet.

Whole-grain, unsweetened cereal with skim or low-fat milk
1 cup fresh strawberries
Coffee
Water

Two-ounce slices of roasted chicken breast on a whole-grain roll with mustard
To dress the mixed green salad with vegetables, nuts, and balsamic vinegar and olive oil, use 1 tablespoon.
Skim or low-fat milk or water

1 cup fresh cherries
Water

Roasted salmon (3 to 4 ounces)
Roasted or steamed green beans
1/2 to 1 cup of whole-grain pasta with lemon pepper and olive oil
Water
Low-fat yogurt
1 cup fresh melon
Caffeine-free beverage, such as herbal tea

Following a gout diet can help limit uric acid production and increase its elimination. A gout diet probably won’t lower the amount of uric acid in your blood enough to treat your gout without medicine. But it may help decrease the number of attacks and limit their severity.

Along with cutting back on calories and working out regularly, a gout diet can also help you reach and keep a healthy weight, which is good for your health in general.

There is a problem with information submitted for this request. Review/update the information highlighted below and resubmit the form.

Thank you for subscribing!

Youll soon start receiving the latest Mayo Clinic health information you requested in your inbox.

Top 5 Best Fishes For Gout

FAQ

What fish is lowest in purines?

Some fish, including salmon, sole, tuna, catfish, red snapper, tilapia, flounder, and whitefish are lower in purine than other types of fish, and can be included in your diet in moderation (two to three times per week) if you are not consuming other purine-rich foods.

What foods help lower uric acid?

Consuming foods low in purines can help reduce uric acid levels. These include some dairy products, peanut butter and nuts, potatoes, pasta, rice, and more.

How to flush uric acid quickly?

Drinking plenty of fluids helps your kidneys flush out uric acid faster. The kidneys filter out about 70% of the uric acid in your body. Drinking enough water can help support your kidneys and may reduce your risk of uric acid kidney stones. Keep a water bottle with you at all times.

What aggravates gout the most?

Foods and drinks that are high in fructose include soda or pop and candy. Having a diet high in purines, which the body breaks down into uric acid. Foods high in purines include red meat, organ meat (like liver, kidney), and some kinds of seafood, such as anchovies, sardines, mussels, scallops, trout, and tuna.

Is Salmon High in purine?

Limit Purine-Rich Foods: While salmon is moderate in purines, managing the overall purine content in your diet is essential. Limit or reduce the consumption of high-purine foods such as organ meats, certain seafood, and red meats.

What is a list of high purine foods?

Meat and offal, fish and seafood, mushrooms, chocolate, nuts, legumes such as beans, lentils and peas, vegetables such as cauliflower, broccoli, chard, asparagus and spinach, as well as cereals such as oats. Also, alcoholic beverages, especially beer, are high in purines.

Which fish has the highest levels of purines?

Sardines and anchovies have some of the highest levels of purines out of the various kinds of fish.. 4. Sweetened Beverages Multiple studies have established a link between hyperuricemia, gout, and similar conditions, with excess consumption of sugar.

Which seafood is low in purines?

Crab: Crab meat is low in purines and can be included in salads, sandwiches, or seafood dishes. Lobster: Lobster is a seafood delicacy that is relatively low in purines. Scallops: Scallops are a tasty and low-purine seafood option that can be pan-seared or grilled.