PTI

London, Feb 2: It has long been considered a disease of the rich.

But, no more. Gout can affect all those who have a sweet tooth, according to a new study. A team of international researchers has carried out a study and found that high consumption of sugar-laden soft drinks and fruit juices substantially ups the risk of gout, a painful joint disease.

According to the team, the risks associated with these fizzy drinks are worse than hard liquor.

“This is the first study and a very large one, linking the commonly consumed products to this common disorder. We’ve found that if you have high consumption of fructose, your gout risk is doubled”.

The researchers came to the conclusion after following more than 46,000 men aged above 40 with no previous history of gout over a period of 12 years - the participants’ intake of soft drinks, fruits and fruit juices was monitored. The team found that the risk of developing gout was 85 per cent higher among men who drank two or more cans of soft drinks daily than those who consumed less than one a month - this is greater than the risk linked to drinking spirits.

Men who consumed large amounts of fruit juice or fructoserich fruits, such as apples and oranges, also had a higher risk of the condition. However, those who drank diet soft drinks showed no extra risk.

The results of the study have been published in the ‘British Medical Journal’.