More Vitamin C, Less Gout?

A 20-year study finds that men who take in more vitamin C appear less likely to get gout, a painful type of arthritis common in men. Nearly 50,000 men were surveyed about their diet and health. The risk of developing gout was 45% lower in men taking 1,500 milligrams of vitamin C per day or higher. Vitamin C appears to reduce uric acid. This naturally occurring acid can form deposits around joints, leading to the pain and swelling of gout. The study appeared in the March 9 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine.