ROLE OF AYURVEDIC DIETARY REGIMENS IN THE NON-PHARMACOLOGICAL MANAGEMENT OF ASYMPTOMATIC HYPERURICEMIA: A NARRATIVE REVIEW
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22159/prl.ijayush.v15i07.2208Keywords:
Hyperuricemia; Vatarakta; Pathya Ahara; Nidana Parivarjana; Prakriti; Ritucharya.Abstract
Background: Asymptomatic hyperuricemia is characterized by persistently elevated serum uric acid concentrations in the absence of overt gouty arthritis or uric acid nephrolithiasis. Although long regarded as a benign biochemical curiosity, accumulating evidence links it to gout, chronic kidney disease, cardiovascular disease, and metabolic syndrome. Current management emphasizes lifestyle and dietary correction during this silent phase, before irreversible joint or renal damage occurs.
Objective: To critically examine the role of Ayurvedic dietary regimens (Pathya Ahara, wholesome diet) in the non-pharmacological management of asymptomatic hyperuricemia by integrating classical Ayurvedic reasoning with contemporary nutritional science.
Methods: A narrative review was undertaken using classical Ayurvedic compendia and indexed biomedical literature from PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar (2000–2026). Material relating to Vatarakta, its causative factors (Nidana), and constitutional (Prakriti) and seasonal (Ritucharya) dietary planning was extracted and thematically synthesized.
Results: Ayurveda treats dietary correction as the primary therapeutic lever through Nidana Parivarjana. The causative profile of Vatarakta — excess sour, salty, pungent, alkaline, hot, and unctuous foods, red meat, fermented beverages, overeating, and sedentary habits — mirrors recognized dietary risk factors for hyperuricemia. Individualizing this framework by Prakriti, Agni, and Ritucharya sharpens its preventive value, and several classical Pathya items show documented uricosuric or anti-inflammatory activity in modern pharmacological studies.
Conclusion: Ayurvedic dietary regimens offer a holistic, individualized, and low-cost strategy for arresting asymptomatic hyperuricemia before progression to symptomatic gout. The classical framework is biologically plausible and partly corroborated by modern nutritional science, but robust randomized controlled trials are still needed to establish standardized protocols and confirm long-term clinical benefit.
Downloads
References
Lin Z, Gupta JK, Maqbool M, et al. The therapeutic management of chemical and herbal medications on uric acid levels and gout: modern and traditional wisdom. Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2024;17(11):1507.
Li C, Hsieh MC, Chang SJ. Uric acid and cardiovascular disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Heart. 2018;104(7):570-577.
Choi HK, Curhan G. Beer, liquor, and wine consumption and serum uric acid level: the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Arthritis Rheum. 2004;51(6):1023-1029.
Khan SA, Khan AS. The relationship between hyperuricemia and chronic kidney disease: a review. Clin Med Insights Endocrinol Diabetes. 2020;13:1179551420975392.
Hagin D, Singh S. Dietary management of hyperuricemia and gout. Curr Opin Rheumatol. 2017;29(2):157-163.
Jain R, Tiwari A. Ayurveda and high uric acid. Matrix Sci Pharma. 2024;8(4):85-86.
Agnivesha. Charaka Samhita. Acharya YT, editor. Vol. I-II. Varanasi: Chaukambha Sanskrit Sansthan; 2014.
Lolimbaraja. Vaidyajivanam. Deva I, translator. Varanasi: Chowkhamba Krishnadas Academy; 2001.
Sushruta. Sushruta Samhita. Shastri AD, editor. Varanasi: Choukhamba Sanskrit Sansthan; 2012.
Vagbhata. Ashtanga Hridaya. Srikantha Murthy KR, translator. Varanasi: Chowkhamba Krishnadas Academy; 2017.
Kurande V. Management of Gambhira Vatarakta with secondary hypertension: a clinical case study. PDEAS Int J Res Ayurved Allied Sci. 2026;8(1):16-20.
Govinda Das Sen. Bhaishajya Ratnavali. Tripathi AK, editor. Varanasi: Chowkhamba Sanskrit Series; 2014.
Sharma H, Dash B. Fundamentals of Ayurveda. Varanasi: Chaukambha Sanskrit Series; 2007.
Usharani P, Nutalapati C, Pokuri VK, et al. A randomized, double-blind, placebo and positive-controlled clinical pilot study to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of standardized aqueous extracts of Terminalia chebula and Terminalia bellerica in subjects with hyperuricemia. Clin Pharmacol Adv Appl. 2016;8:51-59.
Kelley SF, Ginsburg H. Hyperuricemia: a review of the literature. Am J Clin Dermatol. 2019;20(5):635-642.
Saxena A, Shankar K. Role of obesity in hyperuricemia: an overview. Int J Obes (Lond). 2019;43(5):1037-1044.
Zhang W, et al. The increasing prevalence of hyperuricemia and its associated factors among adults in the United States: a population-based study. Am J Epidemiol. 2015;182(9):799-807.
Rodriguez E, et al. The association between hyperuricemia and metabolic syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Diabetes Metab Syndr Obes. 2021;14:2531-2544.
Gao X, et al. Genetic variants in the SLC2A9 gene and uric acid levels: a meta-analysis. J Hum Genet. 2018;63(10):1135-1141.
Kuo CF, et al. The epidemiology of gout and hyperuricemia. Adv Rheumatol. 2015;55(1):1-10.
Bhava Mishra. Bhava Prakash. Mishra BS, commentator. 4th ed. Varanasi: Chaukhambha; 1997.
Harita. Harita Samhita. Singh RH, editor. Varanasi: Choukhamba Sanskrit Sansthan; 2009.
Caliceti C, Calabria D, Roda A, et al. Fructose intake, serum uric acid, and cardiometabolic disorders: a critical review. Nutrients. 2017;9(4):395.
Kim EY. Nutrient intake and diet quality in individuals with hyperuricemia: a matched population study. Front Nutr. 2026;13:12913185.
Lakshmipati Sastri Vaidya. Yogaratnakara. Sastri B, editor. Reprint ed. Varanasi: Chaukhambha Prakashan; 2015.
Becker MA, et al. Allopurinol: a review of its pharmacology, efficacy, and safety. Am J Med. 2003;114(9):771-777.
White WB, et al. Cardiovascular safety of febuxostat or allopurinol in patients with gout. N Engl J Med. 2018;378(13):1200-1210.
Harris CR, Siegel NJ. Uric acid nephrolithiasis. Semin Nephrol. 2015;35(4):364-370.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Sruthi P, Dr.Ravi Kumar, Dr.Punit Chaturvedi
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
