Supplements for Gout

There are many supplements out there that can help ease the pain of gout and ward off future attacks. Supplements are never a substitute for an improved, healthy diet when it comes to gout (or any other conditions). However, supplements may be used to help alleviate the pain that accompanies the situation and prevent attacks while you are working on improving the diet.

Folic Acid

Folic acid is one of the best supplements for sufferers of gout. It is an important nutrient in the breakdown and metabolism of proteins. It also inhibits enzymes that are responsible for the production of uric acid. The recommended dosage of folic acid for gout is two hundred to four hundred milligrams per day.

Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA), Vitamin E and Selenium

This trio of supplements will suppress the production of certain chemicals that cause joint inflammation. The ALA and selenium help the vitamin E fight free radicals in the body more effectively. These three supplements, when combined, can work wonders for gout. The recommended dosage for these supplements is fifty to six hundred milligrams of ALA per day, two hundred to four hundred IU of vitamin E per day and two hundred micrograms of selenium per day.

Omega-3 and Omega-6 Fatty Acids

These fatty acids are some of the best supplements for gout. They can be found in fish oil, flaxseed oil and evening primrose oil. These fatty acids will inhibit the production of inflammatory agents released in gout. It doesn't matter how you obtain these as supplements but they are well worth taking if you suffer from gout. The recommended dosage for these fatty acids is twelve hundred to two thousand milligrams of fish oil per day in addition to five hundred to fifteen hundred milligrams of omega-6 fatty acids per day. Omega-6 fatty acids can also be found in sunflower, safflower and olive oils.

Bromelain

Bromelain is another of the most effective supplements for sufferers of gout. It is an enzyme found in pineapple and is an extremely powerful anti-inflammatory. The recommended dosage of Bromelain for gout is five hundred to fifteen hundred GDU's per day. You can also reap the same benefits by eating a few servings of fresh pineapple everyday.

Before you take any of the above supplements for gout, make sure you consult your physician to be sure they are safe for you. You will also want to discuss which dosages are appropriate and most effective for your individual condition