Gum Arabic: A Reducing Agent of Uric Acid and a Supportive Treatment of Gout

Gum arabic (GA) from Acacia senegal var. senegal was orally administered to patients suffering from gout. Out of fifty randomly selected patients, twenty-five patients were given a GA dose of 50 g/day for 120 days, and the remaining twenty-five patients represented the control group. Blood samples were collected from all patients on the first day of administering GA, and once every two weeks. Uric acid, urea, creatinine, haemoglobin (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), were determined using standard methods. After a 60 day depletion period, the same parameters were determined using doses of 75 and 25 g/day of GA. The results indicate that GA consumption reduces average serum uric acid levels in both male and female gout patients in a dose dependent manner, higher doses (50 and 75 g/day) causing uric acid levels to fall below normal levels. Urea and creatinine levels, which were initially within the normal range, also decreased significantly in a GA dose dependent manner. Hb and PCV levels, which were initially decreased (compared to the control group), increased significantly in a GA dose dependent manner back towards normal (control group) levels, and at the highest GA dose (75 g/day) increased beyond normal levels. ESR levels, which were initially elevated (compared to the control group), decreased significantly in a GA dose dependent manner back towards normal (control group) levels, and at the higher GA doses (50 and 75 g/day) decreased below normal levels.