Greater, More Frequent Alcohol Consumption Tied to Hyperuricemia, Gout Risk

New research is shedding light on the impact of alcohol consumption on the risk of hyperuricemia and gout, highlighting a heightened risk among those who drink more frequently, those who consume greater amounts of alcohol, and males.1

Findings from the systematic review and meta analysis suggest that although greater levels of alcohol consumption incur the greatest risk of hyperuricemia and gout, even low levels of alcohol consumption can adversely affect disease risk, especially in known high-risk populations.1

“The multiple complications and comorbidities associated with [hyperuricemia and gout] not only impact individual health and quality of life but also place a significant burden on healthcare systems globally,” Huanan Li, of Jiangxi University of Chinese Medicine, and colleagues wrote.1 “This underscores the urgent need for targeted public health strategies and early intervention measures to address and manage these conditions effectively.”

Dietary factors, particularly alcohol consumption, have been widely recognized for their crucial role in the onset and progression of hyperuricemia and gout. Among these, alcohol has become one of the most extensively studied risk factors, but Li and colleagues point to conflicting research with inherent limitations.1,2,3

To assess the impact of alcohol consumption on hyperuricemia and gout risk, investigators systematically searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, and Web of Science databases for relevant studies published from inception through November 2024. For inclusion, studies were required to meet the following criteria:

• Involve either individuals diagnosed with hyperuricemia or gout, or general populations with clearly measured uric acid levels
• Report the association using multivariable-adjusted statistical measures, such as relative risk (RR), odds ratio (OR), hazard ratio (HR), along with 95% confidence intervals (CI)
• Be a cohort study, case–control study, or cross-sectional study

A total of 1401 articles were initially retrieved. After removing duplicates, 1293 unique records remained and were systematically screened based on strict eligibility criteria, including study design, participant characteristics, and outcome relevance. After reviewing the titles, abstracts, and full texts, investigators selected 24 studies with a total of 1,173,410 participants for inclusion in the meta analysis.1

Investigators noted alcohol consumption was significantly associated with an increased risk of hyperuricemia or gout, with a combined OR of 1.69 (95% CI, 1.47–1.94; Z = 7.494; P <.05), suggesting those who drink alcohol have a 69% greater risk compared with non-drinkers. Egger’s test results (P = .317, P >.05) showed no significant publication bias, and sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of the findings after excluding individual studies.1

Further analysis revealed alcohol consumption significantly increases the risk of hyperuricemia (OR, 1.51; 95% CI, 1.32-1.74; Z = 5.886; P <.001). Again, the Egger test did not reach statistical significance (P = .123), indicating no significant publication bias risk. Additional sensitivity analysis showed that after excluding each study one by one, the pooled effect size did not change significantly.1

Similar results were observed for alcohol consumption and gout risk (OR, 1.81; 95% CI, 1.48-2.21; Z = 5.777; P <.001), with Egger test results indicating no significant publication bias (P = 0.481). Sensitivity analysis results were stable, and excluding each study one by one showed minimal changes in the effect size.1

Investigators then applied a restricted cubic spline model to assess the linear dose–response relationship and found a significant positive linear association indicating higher frequencies of alcohol consumption were consistently associated with an increased risk of hyperuricemia or gout.1

While age, country, study type, type of alcohol, and diagnostic criteria had minimal effects on the results in regression analyses, males were found to be more vulnerable to alcohol-related hyperuricemia and gout than females.1

“Reasonable control of drinking behavior, particularly limiting excessive alcohol intake in high-risk populations (such as middle-aged and elderly men), is of great importance for the prevention and management of gout and hyperuricemia,” investigators concluded.1 “In clinical practice, a comprehensive approach considering individual drinking habits, gender, age, and comorbidities should be adopted to develop targeted health interventions, such as controlling alcohol consumption frequency, adjusting the types of alcoholic beverages consumed, and enhancing lifestyle management.”

References

1. Ma W, Ye G, Liu Y, et al. Impact of alcohol consumption on hyperuricemia and gout: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Front Nutr. 2025 May 20;12:1588980. doi:10.3389/fnut.2025.1588980

2. Miller L. Gout & Alcohol: Does Alcohol Use Affect Gout? American Addiction Centers. December 31, 2024. Accessed June 16, 2025. https://americanaddictioncenters.org/alcohol/rehab-treatment/how-does-alcohol-impact-the-risk-of-gout

3. Arthritis, Rheumatic & Bone Disease Associates. How Alcohol Consumption Increases Your Risk of Gout. November 6, 2024. Accessed June 16, 2025. https://arthritissj.com/how-alcohol-consumption-increases-your-risk-of-gout/