Intake of which one of the following food components should be minimized by patients having Gouty Arthritis due to elevated serum uric acid level ?

Gouty arthritis is a metabolic disorder characterized by hyperuricemia, where elevated serum uric acid levels lead to the formation of sharp crystals in the joints [2]. Uric acid is the final metabolic byproduct of the breakdown of purines. Purines are nitrogenous bases found in every cell as components of nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) [1]. In the human diet, nucleic acids are the predominant form in which purines exist [1]. Consuming foods high in nucleic acids, such as organ meats, red meat, and certain seafood, significantly increases the exogenous purine load, thereby raising serum uric acid levels and triggering gout flares [1]. While lipids and carbohydrates (specifically fructose) can influence metabolic health, the direct biochemical precursor to uric acid is the purine ring found in nucleic acids [1]. Therefore, patients are advised to minimize intake of purine-rich nucleic acids to manage the condition.

Sources

1. [2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK546606/
2. [1] https://www.ars.usda.gov/ARSUserFiles/80400535/Data/Purine/PURINEDATABASEDOCUMENTATION2025.pdf