Naturally, lowering uric acid levels Daily orange juice can reduce gout risk

Uric acid level is lowered by a glass of orange juice with meals

Fruit juices have fallen into disrepute in recent years, as the high proportion of natural fructose, for example, has been linked to the development of obesity and gout. A recent human study by the Universities of Hohenheim and Kiel has now investigated this with regard to orange juice and demonstrated an advantage in particular for health-related disadvantages: A glass of orange juice with meals significantly reduces the risk of gout.

Sugary drinks are generally considered to be the cause of gout and obesity. Not only soft drinks and sodas, but also fruit juices have been increasingly evaluated as risk factors in recent years. However, the scientists from the Universities of Kiel and Hohenheim were unable to ascertain any increased weight gain when consuming a glass of orange juice during meals in the two current studies. The gout risk has also dropped instead of rising. One glass of fruit juice per day is recommended, as it naturally contains not only sugars, but also vitamins, polyphenols, minerals and fibers and thus represents a valuable supplement to the diet, emphasize the scientists.

A glass of orange juice with meals significantly reduces the risk of gout. (Image: cut / fotolia.com)

Fruit juices with increasingly bad reputation

For a long time, fruit juices have been considered to be particularly healthy, but in recent years they have become increasingly critical. For example, many parents only offer their children fruit juices diluted with water because of their high sugar content. From some kindergartens and elementary schools, the juices were even completely banished. "For some nutritionists, they are as unhealthy as cola drinks," says Christian-Albrechts-Universität Kiel in a press release on the current studies.

Orange juice and soft drink consumption investigated

Professor Reinhold Carle from the University of Hohenheim and Professor Anja Bosy-Westphal from the Christian-Albrechts-University in Kiel examined the effect of organ juice on 26 young, healthy volunteers in two human studies. For comparison, participants had to cover 20 percent of their daily energy needs for two weeks with either decaffeinated cola or orange juice. "With the juice, that was around 1.2 liters for most subjects, and about one liter a day for cola," says Prof. Carle. In the sense of a so-called cross-over study followed for the participants after the first 14 days a washout phase of one week and then the orange drinkers rose to coke or the coke drinkers to orange juice.

Uric acid levels lowered significantly

First, the researchers in the first study, the question of how cola or orange juice affects the uric acid. A high uric acid level is said to be responsible for the increasing incidence of gout disease in industrialized nations, according to the Kiel University. "Even with this very high level of consumption, unlike cola, orange juice did not affect the glucose metabolism, and the uric acid level was even significantly reduced," emphasizes Prof. Bosy-Westphal. The reduction of the uric acid level was most pronounced at higher initial levels.

Positive effect of vitamin C and flavonoids

According to the nutritionist come as an explanation "for the uric acid-lowering effect of orange juice, both the vitamin C intake by the juice and its content of flavonoids, especially hesperidin, into consideration." The vitamin C promotes the excretion of uric acid, which Prevention of increased uric acid levels (hyperuricemia). The same effect has already been demonstrated for hesperidin in animal experiments. "If the crystallization of uric acid in joints and tissues is inhibited, this in turn can prevent the development of gout," emphasizes Bosy-Westphal. Therefore, regular consumption of orange juice could reduce the risk of gout.

Effects on body fat

In the second study, the researchers investigated the effect of orange juice on the formation of body fat. For this purpose, the subjects also had to cover 20 percent of their daily energy needs with orange juice. However, for two weeks it was initially prescribed that they drink 400 milliliters of orange juice three times a day during the daily meals. They then consumed the juice between meals for the same period of time. While there was a slight increase in body fat when consumed between meals, researchers were unable to observe such an effect when ingested at mealtimes.

Contrary to many assumptions, there is no increase in body fat, even with relatively high orange juice consumption, as long as the juice is consumed with meals. (Image: yahyaikiz / fotolia.com)

Consumption harmless with meals

"We were able to show that even this very high level of consumption had no negative effects on body weight - if the juice was not consumed in between, but was drunk for breakfast, lunch and dinner," says Prof. Bosy-Westphal. When consumed with food, the juice reduces and adapts the spontaneous energy intake to the meal. Fruit juice can therefore be consumed in the usual amount not only without hesitation, but considered as a valuable supplement to a meal, the experts emphasize.

Orange juice consumption in Germany relatively low

"Orange juice is a valuable source of potassium, folic acid and vitamin C. It contains bioactive substances such as carotenoids and polyphenols with good bioavailability," explains Prof. Carle. Although the literary fruit juice consumption against thirst is not recommended, but this is not a common practice anyway. The annual per capita consumption of orange juice in Germany is around 7.5 liters, reports Carle. On the other hand, we consume an average of about 75 liters of lemonade per year - ten times as much. Fruit juices are essentially not used as a thirst quencher in between - unlike sugar-sweetened soft drinks that adolescents and especially young men eat daily in amounts up to half a liter.

Fruit juice thoroughly recommended

The fruit juice could, according to the researchers, also contribute to the recommended daily fruit consumption. Here, the German Society for Nutrition (DGE) advised to consume 250 grams of fruit daily, which is about 43 percent of Germans but below. Excluding fruit juice intake from the DGE recommendations would be 59 percent below recommended levels, the experts said. For example, a glass of fruit juice for breakfast could replace a serving of fruits and vegetables a day. In addition, a study from 2015 at the University of Hohenheim has already shown that the human body absorbs the valuable ingredients of orange much better from the orange juice than from the fruit, according to Prof. Carle. A waiver of the fruit juices would therefore not make sense. (Fp, pm)