The consumption of coffee has a dietary risk factor that has been demonstrated as being both harmful and beneficial in the development in many health problems. The 2007 Arthritis Rheum looks at whether coffee consumption really affects the risk of incident gout in men who are enrolled in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study.

In this study, it was shown that increase coffee consumption was associated with a decreased risk of incident gout. The highest consumption group was defined by drinking 6 cups or more per day. This group showed to have a significant a 56 percent reduced chance of incident gout compared to those who reported no coffee consumption.

In addition, subjects who said they only had 4 to 5 cups per day were also protective. 40 percent of these subjects had a reduction in gout compared to those no report of consuming regularly. The decaffeinated coffee demonstrated a more modest protective effect. It did however lack a clear dose dependent effected in compare to caffeinated coffee. After analyzing the tea intake or caffeine intake this did not demonstrated or created another benefit that would protect the caffeinated coffee intake.

The protected benefits of coffee intake did not vary in analyses stratified by subgroups. In the end, the increased caffeinated coffee that was consumed was associated with the dosage dependent protective effect against the development of gout in the male subjects. Although these results seem positive with gout, it does not mean you should try to drink more coffee, you should really consult your dietician and physician to see what is best in your case.