A study involving 2.6 million people, including over 120,000 patients with gout, has led to a statement completely contrary to common belief.
Epidemiologist Tony Merriman from the University of Otago (New Zealand) stated: “Gout is a chronic disease with a genetic component and is not the fault of the individual. The misconception that gout is caused by lifestyle or diet needs to be eradicated“.
This conclusion was reached by him and his colleagues after examining genetic data collected from 2.6 million individuals across 13 different DNA datasets, including over 120,000 individuals with the common form of gout.
Genetic causes of gout are much stronger than lifestyle risks – (Illustration: MEDICAL XPRESS)
According to Science Alert, the research team compared the genetic codes of individuals with gout to those without the condition.
They identified 377 specific DNA regions with variations characteristic of this condition. Among these, 149 regions had not previously been associated with gout.
While lifestyle and environmental factors certainly have an impact, these findings suggest that genetic factors play a primary role in this disease.
The researchers believe there may still be many unexplored genetic links, indicating that the impact of genetics could be even stronger.
Gout occurs when uric acid levels in the blood are high, leading to the formation of sharp crystals in the joints.
When the body’s immune system begins to attack these crystals, it results in pain.
The researchers assert that genetics plays a crucial role at every stage of this process, especially in how the immune system attacks the crystals and how uric acid is transported throughout the body.
Gout can come and go, but there are treatments available. The authors describe the perspective that gout is due to lifestyle as a “myth” that causes many individuals to feel ashamed, opting to silently endure the condition rather than seeking active treatment.
According to the authors, in addition to helping people better understand the causes of gout, this new study provides scientists with more options to explore when it comes to treatment methods.
This includes managing the immune response to uric acid accumulation.
In fact, existing medications could be repurposed for this purpose, according to a publication in the journal Nature Genetics.
For patients, this finding does not imply that individuals should downplay the impact of lifestyle factors.
On the contrary, it suggests that those predisposed to high uric acid levels, who have experienced gout attacks, or have a family history of the condition should be more cautious about their diet and increase physical activity to mitigate the existing risks from genetic factors.
