Gout, Hyperuricemia, and the Intestinal Microbiome

Gout is a disease of hyperuricemia (HU) leading to monosodium urate crystal deposition in the joint, resulting in inflammation and joint damage. Recently, efforts have been made to characterize the intestinal microbiome of patients who suffer from HU and gout, and pre-clinical studies have evaluated the utility of prebiotics and probiotics in alleviating gout. Herein we review recent notable studies addressing these topics. In brief, the "gouty" microbiome is characterized by reduced diversity, an elevated Bacteroides: Firmicutes ratio, and reduced presence of Akkermansia and Bifidobacterium. In anserine models, supplementation with Lactobacillus probiotic strains appears to reduce serum urate (SU) and HU-induced inflammation. Murine models suggest that the chicory-derived prebiotic inulin may reduce SU, and oral supplementation with the anti-inflammatory short-chain fatty acid butyrate may lower SU by enhancing urate excretion and alleviate HU-induced tissue inflammation. Many of these studies are limited by modest numbers of participants and/or incompletely documented experimental controls, and, in the case of animal models, questionable reproducibility in humans. Many studies have been geographically limited. There remains a need for more information regarding the features of the "gouty" microbiome in wider populations, as well as for additional well-controlled probiotic and prebiotic studies in more physiologically relevant animal models prior to clinical trials.