Cherry consumption and decreased risk of recurrent gout attacks

Zhang Y, Neogi T, Chen C, Chaisson C, Hunter DJ, Choi HK · Arthritis and Rheumatism

Cherry intake over a 2-day window was associated with a 35% lower risk of a gout attack (OR 0.65, 95% CI 0.50-0.85); cherry extract behaved similarly (OR 0.55, 95% CI 0.30-0.98). Combined with allopurinol, the risk was 75% lower than with neither (OR 0.25, 95% CI 0.15-0.42). The association held in men and women and in obese and non-obese participants; in the subgroup table the point estimate weakened and its interval crossed 1 among drinkers (OR 0.92, 95% CI 0.70-1.20) and diuretic users (OR 0.74, 95% CI 0.46-1.20), with no significant interaction (p > 0.17). Risk fell with intake up to 3 servings over 2 days (OR 0.39) and less clearly at 4 or more (OR 0.62, 95% CI 0.38-1.00).

Population

Adults with physician-diagnosed gout, followed online for 1 year

Intervention

Self-reported cherry or cherry-extract intake in the 2 days before an attack

Comparator

Matched 2-day control periods in the same person (case-crossover)

Limitations

Observational and entirely self-reported, including the exposure and the attack. Case-crossover controls for stable personal traits but not for what changes around a flare: people alter what they eat when they feel one coming, which runs the causal arrow backwards. Gout, not osteoarthritis. Funded by NIAMS, the Arthritis Foundation and the American College of Rheumatology Research and Education Fund; the authors declare no cherry-related interests.