Researchers at the Zanjan University of Medical Sciences reported that adopting the DASH diet was linked to lower levels of uric acid in the bloodstream. Historically, high uric acid has been tied to cardiovascular risk, and when crystals build up in joints it can trigger gout. The findings summarize results published in Scientific Reports, emphasizing a potential role for dietary patterns in managing uric acid levels.
To arrive at these conclusions, the team conducted a comprehensive search of major medical databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Embase. The focus was on randomized controlled trials, the gold standard in clinical research. In these trials, adults followed either the keto diet or the DASH diet for a minimum of two weeks to assess their impact on uric acid concentrations. This approach aimed to deliver clear, evidence-based guidance for patients and clinicians alike.
The screening process began with a broad pool of nearly 27,000 publications. Through systematic screening for relevance and repetition, the researchers narrowed the field to ten randomized trials that met their criteria, with four trials examining the DASH diet and six evaluating the ketogenic diet. These trials provided the data needed to evaluate how each dietary pattern influenced uric acid levels over time.
Across all DASH diet trials, a total of 590 participants contributed data. After a monitoring period of at least 28 days, the analysis revealed a statistically significant decrease in serum uric acid among those following the DASH eating plan. This suggests that incorporating the DASH framework may help reduce uric acid burden in people with elevated levels, potentially lowering associated health risks. The results are reported with confidence based on the aggregation of trial findings and are consistent with the intervention’s emphasis on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat dairy, as well as reduced salt and saturated fat intake, all of which contribute to overall metabolic balance.
By contrast, the ketogenic diet, which enrolled 267 participants, did not show a meaningful effect on uric acid levels in these trials. The high-fat, low-carbohydrate approach characteristic of the keto pattern appears not to translate into uric acid reductions in the populations studied, at least within the durations assessed. This outcome highlights the nuanced and sometimes diet-specific nature of uric acid metabolism and the need for longer-term and more diverse studies to fully understand these dynamics, as noted in the broader discourse around dietary strategies for metabolic health.
The DASH diet, originally developed to address hypertension, emphasizes a blend of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat dairy while encouraging limits on added salt, saturated fats, and refined sugars. Its focus on nutrient-dense foods supports cardiovascular and metabolic health in ways that extend beyond blood pressure control. The ketogenic diet, on the other hand, was first devised for pediatric epilepsy management and has since become a topic of wider investigation for various conditions. Its signature feature is a substantial reduction in carbohydrate intake, complemented by higher fat and moderate protein, which shifts the body’s energy source toward ketone bodies produced by the liver. While ongoing research continues to explore potential benefits, the strongest evidence to date supports use in specific contexts rather than broad recommendations for all adults.
Overall, the researchers concluded that integrating the DASH diet into patient treatment plans may be advantageous for individuals facing elevated uric acid levels. They also noted the importance of comparing DASH with other dietary approaches, such as the Mediterranean and vegetarian patterns, to identify the most effective strategy for lowering serum uric acid. In clinical decision-making, these findings can inform dietary counseling and personalized nutrition plans, guiding conversations about long-term dietary changes that support uric acid management and overall health. This body of work underscores the value of dietary patterns as a nonpharmacologic option that can complement medical therapies when appropriate, while recognizing that diet alone may not be the sole solution for every patient. Continued research will help delineate which diet offers the greatest benefit for specific populations and health outcomes, and how best to tailor recommendations to individual needs and cultural contexts, including those in Canada and the United States.