‘Disease of Kings’ Surges by Almost 1,000% in UK; Poor Diet To Blame, Nutritionist Says

There is an alarming increase in the cases of Victorian illness gout, also called the "disease of Kings" in the United Kingdom.

Disease of Kings Surge in the UK

The data obtained via Freedom of Information laws show a 960 percent increase in gout cases in Liverpool, making it "Britain's gout capital." The disease is also called "the disease of kings" because it affects middle-aged men and monarchs like King Henry VIII, Queen Victoria, and Queen Anne, who can afford ultra-processed food and alcohol.

Queen Anne's bout of gout was documented in Netflix's "The Favourite." British actress Olivia Colman portrayed the monarch, who suffered from poor health throughout her life, which was reportedly due to gout. In the film, Colman's character indulges in cake on several occasions.

Gout is a painful type of arthritis linked to high fat, sugar, and salt consumption. It is an inflammatory reaction to urate crystals that form around the joints.

Urate results from the body breaking down a molecule called purine, which is in high concentrations in some diets. Possible sources include seafood with gravy, red meat, and offal like liver. Beer and sugary drinks are also potential sources.

The illness, which is often associated with being overweight, has become more common due to poor diets. It is also a side effect of some drugs, such as those meant to treat high blood pressure.

The impact of gout on patients should not be underestimated, according to Navin Khosla, a pharmacist at the online pharmacy NowPatient, who conducted the investigation.

The primary signs and symptoms of gout are intense, unexpected pain attacks that typically begin in the big toe but can also affect the feet, wrists, ankles, and other body joints. If you see any of these symptoms, you can take ibuprofen to help with the pain. Swollen or red skin above the painful area is another sign of gout.

Gout And Obesity Are Related

Gout and obesity are related, according to Rob Hobson, a licensed nutritionist and advisor for Healthspan, who noted that obesity has been rising in the UK recently. According to Hobson, those who follow a diet high in ultra-processed foods (UPFs) should be especially concerned about poor diets.

"UPFs are low in fibre, vitamins and minerals but every energy dense and easy to over consume causing weight gain," Hobson said.

Numerous studies have shown the link between obesity and gout-- the results indicate that for every 5-point increase in body mass index (BMI), your risk of developing gout increases by 55%.

Being overweight impairs renal function, uric acid accumulation occurs, and gout develops. Therefore, you run the risk of developing gout if you eat a lot of beef, alcohol, and lobster and you are overweight.

Visceral fat, which builds up around your organs and is denser in the abdomen than other types of fat, may be present in your body even if you don't appear overweight. An abundance of inflammatory molecules produced by visceral fat can precipitate the onset of gout.

The good news is that gout caused by weight gain is manageable. Research indicates that individuals who have gained weight over time are more likely to develop gout than those with a healthy weight.

Additionally, it demonstrated that those who shed extra pounds had a lower risk of developing gout and, if they did, experienced fewer severe symptoms.

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