Anthocyanins are also found in other fruits, such as blueberries, but there’s a lack of conclusive research on the effects of blueberry consumption on gout.Īnthocyanins also have anti-inflammatory properties, another reason why cherry juice is a natural anti-inflammatory. A combination of cherries and allopurinol, a medication often taken to reduce uric acid, reduced the risk of gout attacks by 75 percent.Īccording to the study, cherries reduce uric acid because they contain anthocyanins, which is what gives cherries their color.

The researchers found that consuming at least 10 cherries per day reduced the risk of gout attacks by 35 percent. The study looked at 633 participants with gout. One of the most comprehensive studies on gout and cherry juice was conducted in 2012. Of course, this study is limited because it relies on the subjects to report their own symptoms. The survey found that those who used cherry supplements reported significantly fewer flare-ups. Of the survey respondents, 43 percent said that they used cherry extract or juice to treat their gout symptoms. They concluded that the reduction in gout flares could be independently attributed to muted inflammation regardless of uric acid levels.Īn online survey directed at people with gout also suggested cherry intake can improve symptoms. The researchers tracked key serum biomarkers for inflammation and discovered a significant decrease in serum inflammatory mediators like interleukins in gout patients who consumed cherry juice concentrate. This suggested some other mechanism was involved. However, consuming cherry juice concentrate still reduced gout flare-ups significantly. It’s not only cherry juice that could lower uric acid levels - cherry juice concentrate can also be beneficial for those with gout.Ī 2012 pilot study found that consuming cherry juice concentrate for a four-month period or longer did not lower uric acid levels.

Since uric acid buildup is what causes gout, it only goes to reason that cherry juice could prevent or treat gout flare-ups.Ī 2011 study noted that 100 percent tart cherry juice significantly reduced the level of serum uric acid levels in the majority of participants who drank 8 ounces of the juice every day for four weeks. Clin Sci (Lond) 1988 74:553–557.It was originally suspected that cherry juice treats gout flare-up by reducing the level of uric acid in the body. Muscle fatigue and pain after eccentric contractions at long and short length. Muscle soreness, swelling, stiffness and strength loss after intense eccentric exercise. Effect of a marathon run on serum lipoproteins, creatine kinase, and lactate dehydrogenase in recreational runners. Kobayashi Y, Takeuchi T, Hosoi T, Yoshizaki H, Loeppky JA. Alterations of neuromuscular function after prolonged running, cycling and skiing exercises. Severe aseptic inflammation caused by long distance running (246 km) does not increase procalcitonin. Papassotiriou I, Alexiou VG, Tsironi M, Skenderi K, Spanos A, Falagas ME. Ingesting tart cherry juice for 7 days prior to and during a strenuous running event can minimize post-run muscle pain. Participants in the cherry juice group were more willing to use the drink in the future (p < 0.001) and reported higher satisfaction with the pain reduction they attributed to the drink (p < 0.001). While both groups reported increased pain after the race, the cherry juice group reported a significantly smaller increase in pain (12 +/- 18 mm) compared to the placebo group (37 +/- 20 mm) (p <. Participants assessed level of pain on a standard 100 mm Visual Analog Scale (VAS) at baseline, before the race, and after the race.

Participants ingested 355 mL bottles of tart cherry juice or placebo cherry drink twice daily for 7 days prior to the event and on the day of the race. Fifty-four healthy runners (36 male, 18 female 35.8 +/- 9.6 yrs) ran an average of 26.3 +/- 2.5 km over a 24 hour period. The design was a randomized, double blind, placebo controlled trial. This study aimed to assess the effects of tart cherry juice as compared to a placebo cherry drink on pain among runners in a long distance relay race. Tart cherries, rich in antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, may have a protective effect to reduce muscle damage and pain during strenuous exercise. Endurance athletes use NSAIDs during competition to prevent or reduce pain, which carries the risk of adverse effects. Long distance running causes acute muscle damage resulting in inflammation and decreased force production.

Tart cherry juice for arthritis