Pre-European gout in Maori

University of Otago PhD student Anna Gosling's research has added to evidence that Maori suffered...
University of Otago PhD student Anna Gosling's research has added to evidence that Maori suffered from gout in pre-European times. Photo by Linda Robertson.

University of Otago research has further dispelled the myth Maori were not afflicted with gout in pre-European times.

By researching historic newspapers and records of missionaries, early physicians and accounts by Captain James Cook and his crew, PhD student Anna Gosling has found evidence Maori already suffered from gout around the time of European settlement.

This supported previous research based on the discovery of early Maori skeletal remains showing tell-tale signs of gout and further dispelled the myth that the disease was largely an upper-class European affliction, which did not affect any indigenous populations.

''Most of the papers discussing gout in Maori talk about gout as if it is a disease primarily related to transitions to modern lifestyles and the adoption of a westernised diet such as soft drinks, alcohol and highly processed foods,'' Ms Gosling said.

Gout had long been perceived as a disease of the aristocracy, a disease of affluence and sumptuous lifestyles, she said.

Her research and the earlier study showed genetic factors played a significant role and probably meant that Maori suffered from gout well before the first European contact.

''While lifestyle, particularly diet, can contribute to the likelihood of developing gout, there is also a genetic component, which seems particularly strong among Maori and Pacific Islanders.''

''This is something which both the clinicians, who treat gout, and the sufferers of gout, should be aware of.''

The latest data showed that 7.7% of Maori and 8.6% of Pacific Islanders living in New Zealand suffered from gout, compared to 2.3% of New Zealand Europeans.

vaughan.elder@odt.co.nz

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