Tart Cherry Extract Reduces Uric Acid and Inflammation
High levels of uric acid can lead to all kinds of problems. The evidence is mounting that cherries can help.
Having too much uric acid can lead to painful gout. Less known is that, even in the absence of gout, it can cause systemic inflammation, high blood pressure, hypothyroidism and chronic kidney disease.
Tart cherries have been shown in a number of studies to reduce uric acid and improve suffering from gout (Arthritis Rheum 2013;65:1135-6; Arthritis Rheum 2012;64:4004-11).
This new double-blind study gave 10 healthy people either a placebo or 500mg of tart cherry (Prunus cerasus L.) extract powder a day for 28 days.
At the end of the study, while uric acid levels had continued to creep up in the placebo group, in the cherry extract group, they had dropped significantly by 37.4% compared to placebo.
As for inflammation, CRP levels were unchanged in the placebo group but significantly improved in the cherry extract group. Compared to placebo the improvement was 23%. CRP is a highly sensitive biomarker of systemic inflammation. This degree of improvement is clinically relevant, meaning tart cherry extract could benefit cardiovascular disease and inflammatory conditions.
In addition to lower uric acid levels benefiting kidney health, the study also noted a significant reduction in creatine levels that are suggestive of improved kidney function.
The tart cherry extract accomplished all of this while being safe to take.
This study adds to the evidence that tart cherry is a safe way to lower CRP and uric acid, potentially improving inflammatory conditions, gout and kidney health.
Journal of Dietary Supplements. 2025;1-16. doi.org/10.1080/19390211.2025.2589787.
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