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Ranked by evidence

Best supplements for gout and high uric acid

No supplement for gout earns better than a limited grade, and none replaces urate-lowering medication. A 2021 Cochrane review found only two small trials and no high-quality evidence for or against the supplements tested, and a 2025 review of 27 randomized trials called the evidence inconclusive. The two picks below lower uric acid modestly at best and are ranked by what trials show for urate and flares.

Picks are ranked by the strength of published evidence for this goal in otherwise healthy adults. A persistent symptom needs a clinician's evaluation, and no supplement on this list replaces treatment.

Evidence last reviewed: October 2026

Situational

OptionEvidenceBest forThe honest note
Vitamin C Limited evidence modest add-on, not a treatment A meta-analysis of 16 trials with 1,013 participants found vitamin C lowered serum uric acid, but in the one small gout trial allopurinol lowered it more. Stay below 2 g a day, above which kidney stone risk rises in predisposed people. View
Tart Cherry Moderate evidence add-on to urate-lowering therapy Cherry intake lowers serum urate modestly and is linked to fewer flares in observational data, but no adequately powered randomized trial exists. Juice adds about 120–140 kcal per 240 mL, which matters if you have diabetes. View

Popular for this goal — but the evidence says skip

  • Celery Seed Extract Limited evidence

    It is sold for gout on in vitro and animal work only, and no adequate human trial tests it for uric acid, flares or joint pain.

  • Sarsaparilla Limited evidence

    Its gout reputation comes from multi-herb Chinese formulas, where no effect can be attributed to Smilax, and no human trial tests it alone.

  • Anserine Limited evidence

    The uric acid claim comes from mice, and as a purine-related compound it should not be assumed to help gout.

  • Vitamin B3 (Niacin) Limited evidence

    High-dose niacin increases uric acid and can trigger gout, on top of its liver and blood sugar risks.

  • Inosine Limited evidence

    It is metabolized to uric acid, and in a phase 3 trial the inosine group had markedly more kidney stones.

Our verdict

If you want to try something, vitamin C or tart cherry alongside the treatment your doctor prescribes is reasonable, but do not stop allopurinol or any other urate-lowering drug. Skip celery seed, sarsaparilla and anserine, and avoid high-dose niacin and inosine, which raise uric acid.

Key studies