When it comes to gout-related issues, the main topic is “What causes gout?” People will then point fingers at high-purine foods like organ meat, sardine and anchovies, as well as mushrooms. Purine is a natural organic substance that exists in all living creatures. There are a lot of purines that naturally occur on the planet. There are four bases in DNA: adenine (cytosine), guanine (and thymine) and two of them (adenine & guanine). Other popular forms are theobromine, which is the compound that gives chocolate its bitter taste, and caffeine found in coffee.
Let’s understand it
Millions of cells die every day, which means that a lot of DNA will be broken down to release the bases. Guanine will undergo a process called “deamination” which breaks down guanine into xanthine. The enzyme guanase then breaks down xanthine into xanthine. Finally, another enzyme, xanthine oxidese will oxidize the xanthine to make uric acid. Uric acid is the end product of purine degrading in humans and higher apes.
However, the process continues in most mammals. Another enzyme, uricase, further transforms uric acids to allantoin. Is that name familiar? Allantoin can be found in many beauty products. Check out the ingredients lists of some facial creams. Scientists believe that uricase existed in our ancient ancestors. However, some kind of enzymatic defect caused the body to lose its ability to produce it. This could be the reason for all types of gout.
Uric Acid Excess
Because purine or uric acids are not found in excess in most mammals, it is not surprising that we humans experience a large increase in uric Acid in our blood after eating meats from these animals, particularly their organs. Gout patients can get gout attacks within hours after consuming a small amount of these meats.
The liver and the kidney are two major organs of an animal that contain high levels of purine. Because purine is broken down at these sites is where it is most concentrated. These purines will be carried in the blood to these locations to be broken down into uric acid, then allantoin. The purines will eventually be excreted from the body through the urine and feces.