Supplements
vitamin C decreases serum uric acid
In plain terms: Does vitamin C lower uric acid or help gout?
Part of: 🧪 vitamin C
It nudges uric acid down slightly but does not reliably prevent gout attacks, so it's not a gout treatment.
📅 Last reviewed: 2026-07-15 ⓘ
Evidence ladder
How far up the ladder this claim has climbed. A high consensus on a low rung means "consistent so far," not "proven in people."
Top evidence so far: All trials, pooled (Meta-analysis)
How the studies fall
What the evidence shows
Vitamin C produces a small reduction in serum uric acid (pooled RCTs: roughly −0.35 mg/dL). However, this does not translate into fewer gout attacks or reliable clinical benefit: gout-focused Cochrane/SR evidence finds supplements insufficient, and Mendelian-randomization work does not support a protective causal effect on gout risk. Modest biomarker mover, not a gout therapy.
The evidence (6)
| Source | Grade | Stance | Quality | Finding |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pardali et al. 2025 · Mediterr J Rheumatol | observational | tested-null | low | SR of diet/supplements on gout outcomes: vitamin C among agents explored for lowering serum uric acid; clinical gout benefit not established. |
| Juraschek et al. 2011 · Arthritis Care Res | meta-analysis | supports | moderate | MA of RCTs: vitamin C supplementation significantly reduced serum uric acid (pooled ~-0.35 mg/dL). |
| Enderle J et al 2026 · study_type: RCT | RCT | supports | moderate | RCT, n=40, 2wk crossover, 600mg VitC vs placebo (orange drinks). VitC & VitC+Hesp arms: SUA decreased significantly; no abstract-reported mg/dL delta/CI, magnitude not stated. |
| Qiu et al. 2024 · Clin Nutr | observational | mixed | low | Mendelian-randomization study of micronutrients on urate/gout: no robust causal protective effect on gout risk. |
| Andres et al. 2014 · Cochrane Database Syst Rev | meta-analysis | mixed | moderate | Cochrane review of dietary supplements for chronic gout: evidence of benefit/safety limited or absent — no clear clinical gout benefit. |
| Stamp et al. 2013 · Arthritis Rheum | RCT | contradicts | moderate | RCT in GOUT patients: vitamin C gave only a clinically insignificant serum-urate reduction — the modest biomarker effect does not extend to gout treatment. |
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