Effect of tart cherry juice on risk of gout attacks: protocol for a randomised controlled trial

Introduction Gout is a painful form of inflammatory arthritis associated with several comorbidities, particularly cardiovascular disease. Cherries, which are rich in anti-inflammatory and antioxidative bioactive compounds, are proposed to be efficacious in preventing and treating gout, but recommend...

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Main Authors: Kirstie Louise Lamb, Anthony Lynn, Jean Russell, Margo E Barker
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMJ Publishing Group 2020-03-01
Series:BMJ Open
Online Access:https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/10/3/e035108.full
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author Kirstie Louise Lamb
Anthony Lynn
Jean Russell
Margo E Barker
author_facet Kirstie Louise Lamb
Anthony Lynn
Jean Russell
Margo E Barker
author_sort Kirstie Louise Lamb
collection DOAJ
description Introduction Gout is a painful form of inflammatory arthritis associated with several comorbidities, particularly cardiovascular disease. Cherries, which are rich in anti-inflammatory and antioxidative bioactive compounds, are proposed to be efficacious in preventing and treating gout, but recommendations to patients are conflicting. Cherry consumption has been demonstrated to lower serum urate levels and inflammation in several small studies. One observational case cross-over study reported that cherry consumption was associated with reduced risk of recurrent gout attacks. This preliminary evidence requires substantiation. The proposed randomised clinical trial aims to test the effect of consumption of tart cherry juice on risk of gout attacks.Methods and analysis This 12-month, parallel, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial will recruit 120 individuals (aged 18–80 years) with a clinical diagnosis of gout who have self-reported a gout flare in the previous year. Participants will be randomly assigned to an intervention group, which will receive Montmorency tart cherry juice daily for a 12-month period, or a corresponding placebo group, which will receive a cherry-flavoured placebo drink. The primary study outcome is change in frequency of self-reported gout attacks. Secondary outcome measures include attack intensity, serum urate concentration, fractional excretion of uric acid, biomarkers of inflammation, blood lipids and other markers of cardiovascular risk. Other secondary outcome measures will be changes in physical activity and functional status. Statistical analysis will be conducted on an intention-to-treat basis.Ethics and dissemination This study has been granted ethical approval by the National Research Ethics Service, Yorkshire and The Humber—Leeds West Research Ethics Committee (ref: 18/SW/0262). Results of the trial will be submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal.Trial registration number NCT03621215.
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spelling doaj-art-2aa790235c714d5e81bbce54ae0000482025-08-20T02:19:14ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Open2044-60552020-03-0110310.1136/bmjopen-2019-035108Effect of tart cherry juice on risk of gout attacks: protocol for a randomised controlled trialKirstie Louise Lamb0Anthony Lynn1Jean Russell2Margo E Barker3Food and Nutrition Group, Sheffield Business School, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield, UKFood and Nutrition Group, Sheffield Business School, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield, UKCorporate Information and Computing Services, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UKFood and Nutrition Group, Sheffield Business School, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield, UKIntroduction Gout is a painful form of inflammatory arthritis associated with several comorbidities, particularly cardiovascular disease. Cherries, which are rich in anti-inflammatory and antioxidative bioactive compounds, are proposed to be efficacious in preventing and treating gout, but recommendations to patients are conflicting. Cherry consumption has been demonstrated to lower serum urate levels and inflammation in several small studies. One observational case cross-over study reported that cherry consumption was associated with reduced risk of recurrent gout attacks. This preliminary evidence requires substantiation. The proposed randomised clinical trial aims to test the effect of consumption of tart cherry juice on risk of gout attacks.Methods and analysis This 12-month, parallel, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial will recruit 120 individuals (aged 18–80 years) with a clinical diagnosis of gout who have self-reported a gout flare in the previous year. Participants will be randomly assigned to an intervention group, which will receive Montmorency tart cherry juice daily for a 12-month period, or a corresponding placebo group, which will receive a cherry-flavoured placebo drink. The primary study outcome is change in frequency of self-reported gout attacks. Secondary outcome measures include attack intensity, serum urate concentration, fractional excretion of uric acid, biomarkers of inflammation, blood lipids and other markers of cardiovascular risk. Other secondary outcome measures will be changes in physical activity and functional status. Statistical analysis will be conducted on an intention-to-treat basis.Ethics and dissemination This study has been granted ethical approval by the National Research Ethics Service, Yorkshire and The Humber—Leeds West Research Ethics Committee (ref: 18/SW/0262). Results of the trial will be submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal.Trial registration number NCT03621215.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/10/3/e035108.full
spellingShingle Kirstie Louise Lamb
Anthony Lynn
Jean Russell
Margo E Barker
Effect of tart cherry juice on risk of gout attacks: protocol for a randomised controlled trial
BMJ Open
title Effect of tart cherry juice on risk of gout attacks: protocol for a randomised controlled trial
title_full Effect of tart cherry juice on risk of gout attacks: protocol for a randomised controlled trial
title_fullStr Effect of tart cherry juice on risk of gout attacks: protocol for a randomised controlled trial
title_full_unstemmed Effect of tart cherry juice on risk of gout attacks: protocol for a randomised controlled trial
title_short Effect of tart cherry juice on risk of gout attacks: protocol for a randomised controlled trial
title_sort effect of tart cherry juice on risk of gout attacks protocol for a randomised controlled trial
url https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/10/3/e035108.full
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