GoutPal Interactive

Saw your statement about apple cider vinegar. I tried it and it worked very fast. personally, I didn’t think it would from my initial research, but from the preponderance of positive, anecdotal evidence, I gave it a shot.

Being an ex investigative, environmental journalist, I wanted to find out why, and like you, couldn’t find any reason at first. However, as I investigated further, it contains malic acid, which apparently neutralizes uric acid.

I also found it curious that absolutely not scientific research has been done with ACV and gout, but interestingly, apples are one of the fruits that have been researched the most for curative properties, and have the highest malic acid content. Apples are also a reccommended food for people suffering with gout.Consequently, it’s reasonable to to state that, ACV would also have high levels of malic acid which may well be more bioavailable than simply eating and digesting a whole apple.

I’ve seen data which states that the malic acid level in fermented apple cider can easily reach 1.5%.

I determined that I have a potassium deficiency, and while the ACV gave me a kick start, I have increased my uptake of potassium.

I think that it is possible that many problems with gout may well be related to potassium deficiency.

Best Regards,

GC Glasser

Post edited 1:34 pm – May 19, 2009 by zip2play

Just to be chemically precise, there is no way to neutralize an acid with another acid. To neutralize an acid one needs to use a base, an ALKALINE substance.

Yes, the kidney's  alility to retain or release uric acid is closely related to it's handling of poassium both are influenced by handling of sodium. It's a delicate dance and helps explain why people can precipitate a gout attack by using thiazide diuretics which cause elimination of soidium and for balance an elimination of potassium and to balance BOTH, a retention of urate ion. But this electrolyte dance is not a simple matter. Perhaps increase of potassium is wise since historically we get less and less of it while we get more and more sodium.

I find that any discussion of cider vinegar to cause MEGO (my eyes glaze over) because I have read over the years about its ability to cure amost  EVERYTHING. My experience is that any such miracle usually cures NOTHING, except perhaps poor apple sales. The cider vinegar people have a GOOD ad-campaign going for them.

The answer to any of these “cures” is a simple study with half a large population taking the miracle stuff and half not. The ABSENCE of these studies should breed a healthy skepticism.

George Glasser said:

Actually, it isn't any magical properties in ACV, it's the plain old acetic acid that does the trick. Acetic acid is absorbed through the stomach as ionic acetate – not as an acid per-se – and  oxidizes to a bicarbonate which raises the blood pH.

Potassium acetate is used for gout treatment. When it passes through the stomach lining into the blood, it converts to potassium carbonate, raises the blood pH  and the alkaline salts excreted by the kidney render the urine less acid. “It is a marked diuretic, increasing the amount of urine and the solids of the urine without irritation of the kidney,” American Medical Association – “A Handbook of Usefu Drugs.”

Sodium acetate can also be used, but it causes stomach upset in some people – it would convert to bicarbonate of soda.

Potassium citrate is also effective in facilitating the excretion of uric acid.

There is quite a bit of scientific evidence that strongly suggests that acetic acid should help in the with uric acid elimination by raising the blood pH and increasing the solubility of uric acid. Acetate is also a vascular dilator which improves blood flow and dissolution of sodium urate crystals.

                     Sorry pals-will you share how one would take Apple cider vinegar,please