Lemon Juice and Baking Soda for Gout – Which Is Better?
Bottom Line: When it comes to lemon juice and baking soda for gout, studies reveal that lemon juice is the clear winner when it comes to natural remedies for gout. But, because gout can lead to serious health conditions, those suffering from gout should not attempt to treat it independently. This is a medical condition that requires a physician’s guidance.
What Is Gout?
Gout, a disorder afflicting more than eight million Americans, results from improper metabolism of uric acid in the body. Too much uric acid creates needle-shaped monosodium urate crystals, which deposit in the soft tissues, such as the joints. Commonly afflicted areas are the big toe, ankle, knee, wrist, elbow, and fingers. [1]
Traditional Gout Treatments
Prescribed gout treatments work to reduce inflammation. They also work to lower uric acid levels in the body to slow the formation of monosodium urate crystal deposits in the joints. [2]
So, it would follow that for any natural remedy to be effective, it would also have to lower uric acid levels in the body. Many believe that baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) and lemon juice can do just that. Let’s take a look at the research.
Baking Soda and Gout
The idea of using baking soda as a treatment for gout is likely based on the work of Sir Alfred Garrod, Physician Extraordinary to Queen Victoria. [3] According to Sir Alfred Garrod’s “The Nature and Treatment of Gout and Rheumatic Gout,” which was published in 1859, reducing the alkaline state of the blood likewise lessens its ability to retain uric acid. [4]
How Does Baking Soda Work for Gout?
The premise behind ingesting baking soda for gout is that it helps to increase the body’s alkalinity. One study found that adult patients with type 1 diabetes that were given 2 doses of 1,950 mg of oral sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3 ) over twenty-four hours experienced normalized urine pH and decreased UA crystals.[5]
Another study concluded that the alkalization of urine is effective for facilitating uric acid secretion. This particular study successfully alkalized urine through diet and not through ingesting baking soda. [6]
Baking Soda Can Have Serious Side Effects
Baking Soda is the common name for sodium bicarbonate. According to Poison Control, both the sodium and the bicarbonate can cause serious toxicity if too much is swallowed. Vomiting and diarrhea are common after ingesting too much baking soda. But once absorbed high sodium concentrations can cause serious conditions such as dehydration, seizures, and kidney failure. [7]
In addition, ingesting too much baking soda causes the rapid formation of gas in the stomach, which can lead to stomach ruptures if taken after a large meal or following alcohol binging. [8]
Bottom Line
There are currently no recognized studies on the efficacy of baking soda as a gout remedy. Due to the fact that sodium bicarbonate can have adverse health effects based on many factors, you should consult your physician who is aware of all of your health conditions before using baking soda as any natural health remedy.
Lemon Juice for Gout
Several studies have indicated that lemon juice may be a real solution for lowering uric acid levels in the body. Lemon juice stimulates the formation of calcium carbonate, which in turn alkalizes the blood and urine. This helps to neutralize uric acid, which, as mentioned above, its buildup is responsible for the formation of painful monosodium urate crystal deposits in the joints. [9]
One study implemented lemon juice therapy by giving seventy-five rheumatology patients lemon water for six weeks. The lemon water consisted of 2 freshly squeezed lemons in 2 liters of water to be consumed each day. The study concluded that after six weeks, all individuals displayed lower uric acid levels as well as urine alkalization. [10]
Another study demonstrated that lemon juice helps to lower blood uric acid levels. In this study, participants were given 30 ml of straight lemon juice per day. According to the study authors, this is equivalent to one lemon per day. At the end of six weeks, the results showed that the lemon juice significantly lowered uric acid blood-serum levels. [11]
Lemon Juice Side Effects
According to the American Dental Association, fruit juices with a low pH (below 2.0-3.5) cause dental erosion. With a pH of 2.0, lemons fall into this category. [12]
Bottom Line
Both studies, as well as others, have suggested that lemon juice may help lower uric acid levels in the body. Gout is not only painful; it can develop into a serious condition. According to the Arthritis Foundation, “excess uric acid can also damage kidneys, blood vessels, and other organs, and gout raises the risk for several disorders. These include kidney and cardiovascular disease, as well as diabetes, depression, and sleep apnea.” [13]
Those suffering from gout should not attempt to treat it on their own. This is a medical condition that requires a physician’s guidance.
Resources – “Lemon Juice and Baking Soda for Gout”
[1] WebMD – Gout On the Rise In the US
[2] WebMD – Which Medicines Treat Gout?
[3] Storey, G.D. “Alfred Baring Garrod (1819-1907)”.Rheumatology. 2010. Vol. 40, No. 10 pp: 1189-1190. Print
[4] Garrod, Alfred Baring. The nature and treatment of gout and rheumatic gout . London: Walton and Maberly, 1859. Print.
[5] Bjornstad, Petter. Et al. “Role of Bicarbonate Supplementation on Urine Uric Acid Crystals and Diabetic Tubulopathy in Adults with Type 1 Diabetes: A Brief Report.” Diabetes Obesity and Metabolism, Vol. 20, No. 7, 2018, pp. 1776-1780. Print
[7] [8] Poison Control – My Child Got Into the Baking Soda – Addressing the Risks and Treatment
[9][10] Biernatkaluza, E.K. “SAT0318 Lemon Juice Reduces Serum Uric Acid Level Via Alkalization of Urine in Gouty and Hyperuremic Patients- A Pilot Study.” BMJ – Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, Vol. 74, Iss. 2.
[11] Wang, Hongjing. “Lemon fruits lower the blood uric acid levels in humans and mice.” Scientia Horticulturae, Vol. 220, 2017, pp. 4-10. Print
