In a study published in The Journal of Functional Foods, researchers at Northumbria University have found that Montmorency cherry concentrate may help relieve symptoms of gout by significantly reducing uric acid levels in the body.
Gout occurs when excess uric acid, a naturally occurring substance in the body, crystallizes in the joints. Montmorency cherries are an extremely rich source of plant compounds that possess anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
In the study, 12 healthy participants consumed either 30ml or 60ml of CherryActive’s Montmorency cherry concentrate mixed with 100ml of water. Blood and urine samples were taken at regular intervals.
Two hours after drinking the concentrate, uric acid levels in urine had increased by around 250% indicating that the body was quickly excreting uric acid. This was reflected in the blood tests, with uric acid levels in blood decreasing by around 36% eight hours after drinking the concentrate.
The findings found that there was no additional benefit to taking a 60ml dose compared to a 30ml dose.
Dr Glyn Howatson, who conducted the study along with Phd student Phillip Bell, said: “This is an exciting first step to applying this intervention to a clinical population that suffers from gout. While the condition can be managed with pharmacological agents, more and more people are increasingly reluctant to use them because of potential side effects and are keen to use natural interventions.”
John Carey, director of Cherry Active Ltd, commented: “Montmorency cherries have long been recognized as bringing significant health benefits relating to improved sleep quality, rapid recovery from exercise-induced soreness and improved care of joints. Having heard anecdotal evidence that it was also bringing relief to those suffering from gout, we are very pleased to see that the findings of this study have confirmed the additional health benefits that our Montmorency cherry concentrate can bring.”
