New Brunswick, NJ–When the body breaks down purines, it creates uric acid in the process. In most healthy people, this chemical is excreted in urine without a problem. But, in some individuals with hyperuricemia, uric acid is not removed efficiently and builds up in the joints and kidneys. The result can lead to kidney problems, gout or other issues. New research published inClinical Pharmacology: Advances and Applicationssuggests thatTerminalia bellericamay help.

Scientists from Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences in India recruited 110 patients with hyperuricemia and divided them into five groups. For six months, subjects took eitherT. chebula500 mg twice a day,T. bellerica500 mg twice a day,T. bellerica250 mg twice a day, placebo twice a day or a uric acid-reducing drug called febuxostat 40 mg once daily plus an identical placebo. Levels of uric acid in the blood were measured at baseline and throughout the study.

While all groups but placebo experienced a reduction in serum uric acid levels at four weeks, the serum uric acid levels in theT. bellerica500 mg group was nearly double that of theT. chebulagroup. In fact, uric acid levels in theT. bellericagroup went from 8.07±0.87 to 5.78±0.25; that is comparable to levels in the febuxostat group, which declined from 8.53±0.97 to 4.28±0.67.

The authors conclude, “T. bellericahas the potential for treating hyperuricemia as it was devoid of any serious adverse effects in the present study. Further studies are needed to confirm this potential.”

The material used in this study was Ayuric (a standardized aqueous extract of Terminalia bellerica) fromNatreon, based here.

Published in WholeFoods Magazine Online, 7/19/16