Tangerines are exceptionally low in purines and are classified as safe for people with gout when eaten as whole fruit. Although they contain natural fructose (about 2.2 g per 100 g), high-quality clinical evidence—including a 2019 BMJ Open meta-analysis of over 154,000 participants—shows that whole fruit intake does not increase gout risk (RR 0.85), unlike fruit juices and sugar-sweetened beverages. Tangerines also provide vitamin C (26–52 mg per 100 g), which can modestly lower serum urate by increasing urinary uric acid excretion, along with beneficial potassium, fiber, and flavonols. Major rheumatology guidelines (American College of Rheumatology, EULAR, Austrian Society of Rheumatology) consider whole citrus fruits safe and not dietary triggers for flares. As always, stick to whole tangerines and avoid tangerine juice or sweetened citrus drinks.

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