A food, not a drug: several small real effects, none large, and a sugar cost with every dose. Faster strength recovery after hard exercise is the strongest finding. Lower inflammation and better cholesterol appear mainly where readings start out of range; sleep gains split across trials. The gout reputation rests on observation, not measured uric acid change. (Full Review)
| Marker | Target | Why |
|---|---|---|
| hs-CRP | Below 1.0 mg/L | Primary inflammation target; predicts who responds |
| Serum urate | 3.5–5.5 mg/dL | Tests the gout rationale directly |
| LDL cholesterol | Below 100 mg/dL, or below 70 mg/dL with cardiovascular risk | The lipid endpoint most likely to move in older adults |
| Triglycerides | Below 100 mg/dL | Detects the adverse sugar-load signal early |
| Fasting glucose | 75–90 mg/dL | The main safety marker for the carbohydrate load |
| HbA1c | Below 5.4% | Confirms whether glucose drift is real or a single-day artefact |
| Home systolic blood pressure | Below 120 mmHg | Tests the acute pressure effect where it might matter |
| Body weight | Stable, within 1 kg of baseline | Catches the energy surplus the daily dose creates |
Cadence: Baseline fasting panel plus a week of home blood pressure, weight and sleep records; repeated at 12 weeks; fasting glucose, weight and lipid panel every 6 months thereafter