Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Gout FAQ No 5: Is Gout Genetic?

The answer to the question, "Is Gout Genetic?" is easily answered: Yes it is.

However, as it is with so many different diseases and illnesses, blame is often misplaced on genetics much more often than it should be. Under the guise of genetic responsibility, many of today's pharmaceutical drugs are prescribed to correct health conditions that are the direct result of poor diet, stress, toxic environmental chemicals, chronic dehydration and more. Gout falls easily into this category.

In a recent study, Johns Hopkins scientists partnered with an international team that surveyed the genomes of 12,000 individuals to find a genetic cause for gout.The study helped to uncover the malfunctioning gene that can lead to high concentrations of blood urate that forms crystals in joint tissue, causing inflammation and pain - the hallmark of gouty arthritis.

They found that the ABCG2 gene makes a protein that normally transports urate out of the kidney and into urine before the waste product does any harm. The Hopkins researchers established the role of the ABCG2 gene as a cause of gout, solidifying the connection and theory that metabolic deficiencies, as well as too much rich food and alcohol, are the main culprit for this painful arthritic condition that affects more than 3 million Americans annually. They believe the ABCG2 gene may be responsible for some 10 percent of gout in Caucasians.

The study also showed that the ABCG2 protein is located in the kidney where urate excretion takes place and that it is responsible for transporting urate out of the cells. The researchers also proved that a lack of efficiency in removing urate from the blood leads to its increased concentration and crystallization. In humans, these crystals become lodged in joint tissues, leading to the painful symptoms of gout and gout attack.

The conclusion from the research is that utilizing methods to speed excretion with greater efficiency instead of employing the current approach of limiting uric acid production is the direction of the future.

Conversely, other scientific research indicates that the way the human cells receive information is controlled by signals from outside the cells; not from genes and DNA controlling our biology. The influence of negative and positive thoughts can have a profound effect on the human body as methods of retraining the thought processes is put into practice. The same is true with preventing gout and natural treatment for gout.

If the one believes that genetics are what causes gout and beyond their control, the condition may well likely flourish. From the perspective that the pain and onset of gout can be managed by natural gout treatment, home remedies for gout, and voiding foods that cause gout, genetics have little influence.


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