Educational guide
Does Whey Protein Elevate Your Uric Acid?
Does Whey Protein Elevate Your Uric Acid? Whey protein is a type of nutritional supplement made from cow’s milk. Athletes use it to aid muscle recovery following intense bouts of resistance training. Whey is also promoted as a general health supplement to help
This guide cannot diagnose a condition or recommend a personal treatment plan. Discuss medical questions with a qualified professional.
Does Whey Protein Elevate Your Uric Acid?
Whey protein is a type of nutritional supplement made from cow’s milk. Athletes use it to aid muscle recovery following intense bouts of resistance training. Whey is also promoted as a general health supplement to help prevent or correct a protein deficiency in your diet. Whey protein is not associated with elevated uric acid levels.
Animal vs. Other Proteins
- Kidney injury
- Kidney stones
- Gout
- Red meat
- Organ meat
- Certain seafood, like scallops, sardines, etc.
Possible Complications From High Uric Acid
The following conditions can occur as a result of high uric acid levels.
Kidney Damage
Gout
Recommendations for Uric Acid Reduction
To reduce the accumulation of uric acid in your body, limit your intake of animal proteins, like red meat, which are associated with increased uric acid levels.
All dairy contains some purines. The amount varies slightly between different sources, but purines are significantly lower in dairy sources than in animal proteins.
Talk with your doctor about whey protein to make sure it’s not adversely affecting your uric acid levels.
Resources We Trust
- Mayo Clinic: Gout Diet: What's Allowed, What's Not
- Cleveland Clinic: Chronic Kidney Disease
- National Institutes of Health: Nitrate
- U.S. Department of Agriculture: Beverages, Protein Powder Whey Based
- American Heart Association: Protein: What's Enough?
- Choi HK et al. Purine-Rich Foods, Dairy and Protein Intake, and the Risk of Gout in Men. New England Journal of Medicine. March 11, 2004.
- Villegas R et al. Purine-rich Foods, Protein Intake, and the Prevalence of Hyperuricemia: The Shanghai Men's Health Study. Nutrition, Metabolism, and Cardiovascular Diseases. January 31, 2011.
- Gout Low Purine. Cleveland Clinic. March 14, 2022.
- George C et al. Hyperuricemia. StatPearls. October 14, 2023.
- Afzal M et al. Gout. StatPearls. June 23, 2025.
- Zhang Y et al. Gout and Diet: A Comprehensive Review of Mechanisms and Management. Nutrients. August 26, 2022.
- Alaseem AM. Continued Elevation of Creatinine and Uric Acid in a Male Athlete: A Case Report. SAGE Open Medical Case Reports. June 9, 2024.
Allison Buttarazzi, MD
Medical Reviewer
Allison Buttarazzi, MD, is board-certified in internal medicine and lifestyle medicine, and is a certified health and well-being coach. In her primary care practice, Dr. Buttarazzi...
Joe King, MS
Author
Joe King is a California-based fitness club manager who has written articles on exercise and nutrition. As a personal trainer, he has been helping clients reach their fitness goals...