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Ask Dr. Gourmet
Does oatmeal contain purines?
I have gout and am trying to avoid purines. My wife thinks it's only meat I should avoid, but since oatmeal is high in purines, shouldn't I avoid that too?
Dr. Gourmet Says...
Oatmeal is indeed high in purines which can cause a flare of gout, but a report of research in the New England Journal of Medicine showed that eating purine rich vegetables did not increase the risk of a gout attack in men. It was purine rich meats and seafoods that put people at most risk.
Oatmeal is really good for you and shouldn't provoke a gout attack.
Thanks for writing.
Timothy S. Harlan, MD, FACP, CCMS
Dr. Gourmet