Glucosamine and chondroitin: Do they affect gout?

Taking a glucosamine and chondroitin supplement should have no adverse effect on gout. There's also no good evidence that glucosamine or chondroitin helps prevent or treat gout.

Gout is a type of inflammatory arthritis caused by deposits of uric acid crystals in a joint, which cause pain and swelling. Uric acid is a waste product formed from the breakdown of purines, substances found naturally in your body and certain foods, especially shellfish, anchovies, mackerel and beef liver and other organ meats. Some studies suggest that eating large amounts of protein may increase uric acid levels in the blood, increasing the risk of an attack of gout.

Glucosamine is made synthetically or from the outer shells (exoskeletons) of shellfish, and chondroitin is made from cow or shark cartilage. These substances contain no purines and because they're not proteins they should have no effect on uric acid levels in the blood.