Natural plant extract anti-gout product and preparation method and application thereof

Abstract

This invention discloses a natural plant extract anti-gout product, its preparation method, and its application. The natural plant extract anti-gout product comprises the following raw material components in parts by weight: acerola cherry powder: 10-30 parts, bellflower powder: 10-30 parts, celery seed powder: 10-30 parts, peppermint leaf extract: 1-10 parts, and vitamin C: 3-15 parts. The peppermint leaf extract is concentrated at a ratio of 10:1 to 20:1 and prepared using a low-temperature extraction process. Its efficacy is clear and comprehensive: breaking through the limitations of existing single-component supplements, it constructs a three-dimensional efficacy system of "uric acid regulation - anti-inflammatory and analgesic - blood pressure auxiliary regulation." The components work synergistically to quickly relieve acute gout pain, balance blood uric acid levels in the long term, and assist in regulating blood pressure, meeting the dual needs of people with gout and hypertension. This solves the problems of limited efficacy and insufficient consideration of comorbidities in existing technologies.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of food processing and plant extract application technology, specifically a natural plant extract anti-gout product and its preparation method and application. Background Technology

[0002] Gout is a metabolic disease caused by purine metabolism disorder. With the upgrading of people's dietary structure, its incidence rate is increasing year by year, and it is often accompanied by cardiovascular complications such as hypertension, which seriously affects the quality of life of patients. At present, there are many limitations to the intervention methods for gout: although Western medicine drugs can quickly relieve pain and lower uric acid, long-term use can easily cause side effects such as allergies, cardiovascular risks, and gastrointestinal damage, and there is a conflict between its use and antihypertensive drugs, making it difficult to address comorbidities; existing anti-gout nutritional supplements are mostly single-ingredient, with limited efficacy, and some products have illegally added Western medicine ingredients, raising questions about their safety. At the same time, there is a lack of targeted designs for people with gout and hypertension.

[0003] Furthermore, commercially available plant-based compound products suffer from insufficient synergistic formulations, are mostly in bulk powder form, leading to inconvenience in consumption, inaccurate dosage, and susceptibility to moisture absorption and clumping. Moreover, their production processes are limited, making it difficult to adapt to the dosage form requirements of different consumption scenarios; for example, there is a lack of convenient daily consumption formulations. Therefore, developing a scientifically formulated, effective, and safe natural plant extract anti-gout product that can be prepared in multiple dosage forms (including tea) to balance uric acid, reduce inflammation and pain, and help stabilize blood pressure is of great significance in filling existing technological gaps.

[0004] Based on this, a natural plant extract anti-gout product was designed, along with its preparation method and application. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In view of the above situation and to overcome the defects of the prior art, the present invention provides a natural plant extract anti-gout product, its preparation method and application, which effectively solves the problems raised in the background art.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution: a natural plant extract anti-gout product, characterized in that it comprises the following raw material components in parts by weight: West Indian cherry powder: 10-30 parts, Belle powder: 10-30 parts, Celery seed powder: 10-30 parts, Peppermint leaf extract: 1-10 parts, Vitamin C: 3-15 parts; The concentration ratio of the peppermint leaf extract is 10:1 to 20:1, and it is prepared by low-temperature extraction process.

[0007] Preferably, the weight ratio of the raw material components is as follows: West Indian cherry powder: 15-25 parts, Belle powder: 15-25 parts, Celery seed powder: 15-25 parts, Peppermint leaf extract: 3-6 parts, Vitamin C: 5-10 parts.

[0008] A method for preparing a natural plant extract anti-gout product includes the following steps: Step S1, Raw material pretreatment: Pass the acerola cherry powder, bellflower powder, and celery seed powder through a 60-100 mesh sieve to remove impurities; if the peppermint leaf extract is frozen, thaw it at room temperature and stir it evenly; all plant raw materials are washed and dried at low temperature before processing. Step S2, Mixing: Place the pretreated acerola cherry powder, bellflower powder, celery seed powder, peppermint leaf extract and vitamin C, as well as necessary food-grade or pharmaceutical-grade excipients into a three-dimensional mixer and stir for 15-25 minutes, controlling the material uniformity deviation to ≤2%. The speed of the three-dimensional mixer is 120-180 r / min. Step S3, Molding: Select at least one of the following processing methods according to the target dosage form: 1) Tablet preparation: Add filler and lubricant to the mixture, mix evenly, and then compress into tablets using a tableting machine. The filler is microcrystalline cellulose, and the addition amount is 15%-20% of the weight of the mixture. The lubricant is magnesium stearate, and the addition amount is 0.5%-1.5% of the weight of the mixture. 2) Capsule preparation: Add filler and lubricant to the mixture, mix evenly, and then fill the empty capsule shells using a fully automatic capsule filling machine. The filler is microcrystalline cellulose, and the addition amount is 8%-12% of the weight of the mixture. The lubricant is magnesium stearate, and the addition amount is 0.5%-1.5% of the weight of the mixture. 3) Granule preparation: Add binder to the mixture to form a soft mass, granulate it through a 16-mesh sieve, dry it at 60-70℃ until the moisture content is ≤5%, and obtain granules after granulation. The binder is purified water. Dextrin can also be added as an excipient. The amount of dextrin added is 20%-30% of the weight of the mixture. 4) Bulk powder: The mixed materials are directly packaged; 5) Tea beverage preparation: This includes two types: tea bags and instant tea powder. Tea bags are made by mixing the ingredients with a tea carrier in a ratio of 1:3 to 1:5 and packaging them into individual tea bags of 3-5g each. The tea carrier is green tea fragments or barley tea powder. Instant tea powder is made by mixing the ingredients with maltodextrin and steviol glycosides and then spray-drying them. The inlet air temperature of the spray drying is 160-180℃ and the outlet air temperature is 80-90℃. The tea is then packaged into individual small bags. The amount of maltodextrin added is 50%-60% of the weight of the ingredients, and the amount of steviol glycosides added is 0.5%-1% of the weight of the ingredients.

[0009] Preferably, in step S1, the raw material is sieved through a mesh size of 80, and in step S2, the stirring time of the three-dimensional mixer is 20 minutes and the rotation speed is 150 r / min.

[0010] Preferably, in step S3, the spray drying inlet temperature of the instant tea powder preparation is 170°C and the outlet temperature is 85°C.

[0011] Application of a natural plant extract anti-gout product in the preparation of anti-gout and uric acid-balancing dietary supplements or nutritional foods.

[0012] Preferably, the dietary supplement or nutritional food is suitable for patients in the acute attack or remission phase of gout, those with joint stiffness, and people with gout and hypertension.

[0013] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are: 1. Clear and comprehensive efficacy: Breaking through the limitations of existing single-ingredient supplements, it has constructed a three-dimensional efficacy system of "uric acid regulation - anti-inflammatory and analgesic - blood pressure auxiliary regulation". The components work synergistically to not only quickly relieve the pain of acute gout, but also balance blood uric acid levels in the long term, while also assisting in regulating blood pressure. It is suitable for the dual needs of people with gout and hypertension, and solves the problems of one-sided efficacy and insufficient consideration of comorbidities in existing technologies. 2. High safety and suitable for long-term use: The product is composed of 100% natural plant raw materials and vitamin C. It uses low-temperature extraction and gentle processing technology to retain active ingredients. There are no added Western medicines. It has been verified to have no obvious toxic side effects. Only a small number of people may experience mild gastrointestinal discomfort. The incidence rate is low and the tolerance is better than existing anti-gout Western medicines. It is suitable for long-term use to maintain stable uric acid. 3. Strong processing adaptability and high industrialization value: The preparation methods cover a variety of common dosage forms such as powder, granules, capsules, tablets, and tea drinks. In particular, the tea drink dosage form is added to adapt to the consumption habits of the masses. The process parameters are flexible and adjustable, and the product form can be quickly adjusted according to market demand. It provides a general technical solution for large-scale production and solves the problems of single production process, poor adaptability and insufficient scene coverage of existing plant composition production processes. 4. Stable product quality and excellent user experience: Through standardized raw material pretreatment and uniform mixing processes, combined with targeted molding methods, the product ensures uniform content of each component and accurate dosage, avoiding batch-to-batch differences. Capsules, tablets, granules, and tea-based dosage forms each have their advantages. They can mask unpleasant odors of plant-based raw materials (capsules, tablets), are suitable for people with swallowing difficulties (granules), and meet the need for convenient drinking (tea-based drinks). They solve the problems of bulk powders being prone to moisture absorption, inconvenient to take, inaccurate dosage, and insufficient suitability for different scenarios, significantly improving consumer compliance. Detailed Implementation

[0014] The technical solution of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to specific embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0015] This invention provides a natural plant extract anti-gout product. The core of this product is a plant composition comprising the following raw material components in parts by weight: West Indian cherry powder: 10-30 parts, Belle powder: 10-30 parts, Celery seed powder: 10-30 parts, Peppermint leaf extract: 1-10 parts, Vitamin C: 3-15 parts.

[0016] Preferably, the weight ratio of the raw material components is as follows: West Indian cherry powder: 15-25 parts, Belle powder: 15-25 parts, Celery seed powder: 15-25 parts, Peppermint leaf extract: 3-6 parts, Vitamin C: 5-10 parts.

[0017] The peppermint leaf extract is concentrated at a ratio of 10:1 to 20:1 and is prepared using a low-temperature extraction process to fully retain the active ingredients and ensure its anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects.

[0018] The core functions of each component are as follows: West Indian cherry powder: Rich in natural vitamin C and anthocyanins, it can promote the dissolution and excretion of urate, and also has antioxidant effects, which can reduce the release of inflammatory factors; Belle Fragrance Powder: Contains polyphenols, which can inhibit uric acid production and help dilate blood vessels and regulate blood pressure; Celery seed powder: Contains apigenin and other components, which can regulate uric acid metabolism in both directions and relieve joint smooth muscle spasms to reduce pain; Peppermint leaf extract: Concentrated with ingredients such as menthol and menthone, it can quickly relieve joint redness, swelling, heat and pain, and enhance anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects; Vitamin C: Works synergistically with acerola cherry powder to enhance uric acid excretion efficiency and promote joint cartilage repair.

[0019] All raw materials are extracted or processed from natural sources, with no added chemical synthetic ingredients, ensuring high safety.

[0020] Preparation method of natural plant extract anti-gout products The preparation method includes steps such as raw material pretreatment, mixing, and molding, as detailed below: Step S1, Raw material pretreatment: Pass the acerola cherry powder, bellflower powder, and celery seed powder through a 60-100 mesh sieve to remove impurities and ensure consistent powder fineness, and set aside. If the peppermint leaf extract is frozen, it needs to be thawed at room temperature and stirred evenly first. All plant raw materials are washed and dried at low temperature before processing to retain active ingredients. Preferably, the raw materials are sieved through an 80 mesh sieve to better ensure the uniformity of the raw materials and the subsequent mixing effect. Step S2, Mixing: Place the pretreated acerola cherry powder, bellflower powder, celery seed powder, peppermint leaf extract, vitamin C, and necessary food-grade or pharmaceutical-grade excipients into a three-dimensional mixer and stir for 15-25 minutes, controlling the material uniformity deviation to ≤2%; the speed of the three-dimensional mixer is 120-180 r / min, preferably 150 r / min, and the stirring time is 20 minutes to ensure that all materials are fully mixed and the composition is uniform.

[0021] Among them, excipients can be selected according to dosage form requirements: for conventional dosage forms (tablets, capsules, granules), microcrystalline cellulose is selected as the filler, magnesium stearate is selected as the lubricant, steviol glycosides are selected as the flavoring agent, and purified water is selected as the binder; for tea beverage dosage forms, food-grade green tea fragments, barley tea powder, and maltodextrin (for instant type) are selected as excipients, all of which meet food-grade or pharmaceutical-grade standards and do not affect the performance of the core efficacy.

[0022] Step S3, Shaping: Based on the target product form, the mixture is processed into the final dosage form using at least one of the following methods: 1) Tablet preparation: Add filler and lubricant to the mixture, mix evenly, and then compress into tablets using a tableting machine; the filler is microcrystalline cellulose, and the amount added is 15%-20% of the weight of the mixture; the lubricant is magnesium stearate, and the amount added is 0.5%-1.5% of the weight of the mixture; this tablet is convenient to take, suitable for daily carrying, and suitable for long-term use by people in the remission period of gout to maintain stable uric acid levels; 2) Capsule preparation: Add filler and lubricant to the mixture, mix evenly, and then fill into hollow capsule shells (such as No. 0 hollow capsule shells) using a fully automatic capsule filling machine; the filler is microcrystalline cellulose, and the addition amount is 8%-12% of the weight of the mixture; the lubricant is magnesium stearate, and the addition amount is 0.5%-1.5% of the weight of the mixture; this capsule can mask the unpleasant odor of plant raw materials and accurately control the dosage; 3) Granule preparation: Add a binder to the mixture to form a soft mass, granulate it through a 16-mesh sieve, dry it at 60-70℃ until the moisture content is ≤5%, and then granulate it to obtain granules; the binder is purified water, and dextrin can also be added as an excipient, with the amount of dextrin added being 20%-30% of the weight of the mixture; this granule can be taken by dissolving it in warm water, and is suitable for adolescents and people with gout who have difficulty swallowing capsules; in addition, this granule can also be mixed with magnesium stearate (0.5%-1% of the weight of the granule) and then compressed into tablets to make chewable tablets, thus optimizing the taste; 4) Bulk powder: The mixed materials are directly packaged to meet personalized blending needs; 5) Tea beverage preparation: including both tea bags and instant tea powder. Tea bags: Mix the ingredients with a tea carrier (such as broken green tea or barley tea powder) in a ratio of 1:3 to 1:5, and use an automatic tea bag packaging machine to package them into individual tea bags of 3-5g each. Brew with hot water and drink. Suitable for daily office and home settings. Instant tea powder: After the mixture is evenly mixed with maltodextrin and steviol glycosides, it is put into a spray dryer. The inlet air temperature is controlled at 160-180℃ and the outlet air temperature at 80-90℃. The powder is dried and packaged into individual packets. It can be brewed with warm water and is suitable for portable use when going out. Preferably, the spray drying inlet air temperature is 170℃ and the outlet air temperature is 85℃. The amount of maltodextrin added is 50%-60% of the weight of the mixture, and the amount of steviol glycosides added is 0.5%-1% of the weight of the mixture.

[0023] Application of natural plant extract anti-gout products The natural plant extract anti-gout products described in this invention can be used to prepare anti-gout and uric acid-balancing dietary supplements or nutritional foods, suitable for patients in the acute attack and remission phase of gout, those with joint inflexibility, and people with gout and hypertension; among them, the tea-drinking formulation is particularly suitable for convenient drinking scenarios such as daily health maintenance and office commuting, and can meet the usage habits of different groups of people.

[0024] Example 1: Preparation of plant composition base powder Weigh the raw materials according to the following parts by weight: 15 parts West Indian cherry powder, 15 parts Belle powder, 15 parts Celery seed powder, 3 parts Peppermint leaf extract (15:1 concentrated, low temperature extraction), and 5 parts Vitamin C. After passing each plant powder through an 80-mesh sieve to remove impurities, place them together with Vitamin C in a three-dimensional mixer and mix at 150 r / min for 20 minutes to obtain a uniform plant composition base powder, which can be directly packaged as a bulk dietary supplement.

[0025] Example 2: Preparation of anti-gout capsules Take 100 parts by weight of the base powder obtained in Example 1, add 10 parts by weight of microcrystalline cellulose (filler) and 1 part by weight of magnesium stearate (lubricant), put them into a three-dimensional mixer and mix at 150 r / min for 20 minutes to ensure uniform mixing; use a fully automatic capsule filling machine to fill the mixture into No. 0 empty capsule shells to make capsules; take 3 capsules 3 times a day. Patients with mild to moderate gout can reduce the dosage. Take with warm water 30 minutes after meals. During acute attacks, take once on an empty stomach to accelerate absorption.

[0026] Example 3: Tablet Preparation (Direct Compression Method) Take 100 parts by weight of the base powder obtained in Example 1, add 18 parts by weight of microcrystalline cellulose, 3 parts by weight of croscarmellose sodium (disintegrant) and 1.2 parts by weight of magnesium stearate, mix thoroughly and evenly, and compress into round tablets using a tablet press. The weight of each tablet is adjusted according to the dosage requirements. The tablets are convenient to take and can be carried daily. They are suitable for long-term use by people in the remission period of gout to maintain stable uric acid levels.

[0027] Example 4: Preparation of Granules and Second-Formed Chewable Tablets Take 100 parts by weight of the base powder obtained in Example 1, add 25 parts by weight of dextrin, stir with purified water as a binder to form a uniform soft material, granulate with a 16-mesh sieve, dry at 65°C until the moisture content is ≤5%, and obtain granules after granulation; these granules can be taken by mixing with warm water, and are suitable for adolescents and gout people who have difficulty swallowing capsules. The dosage can be reduced according to weight.

[0028] Take 100 parts by weight of the above granules, add 0.8 parts by weight of magnesium stearate, mix evenly and compress into tablets to make chewable tablets, optimize the taste and further enhance the user experience.

[0029] Example 5: Preparation of anti-gout tea bags Take 100 parts by weight of the base powder obtained in Example 1, add 400 parts by weight of food-grade green tea powder, mix thoroughly and evenly, and then package into individual tea bags of 4g each using an automatic tea bag packaging machine. Take 2-3 bags daily, brewing each bag with 200-300ml of 80-90℃ hot water for 3-5 minutes before drinking. It can be brewed repeatedly until the flavor becomes weak. It is suitable for daily health maintenance for people in the remission period of gout and helps maintain uric acid levels.

[0030] Example 6: Preparation of instant tea powder for treating gout Take 100 parts by weight of the base powder obtained in Example 1, add 55 parts by weight of maltodextrin and 0.8 parts by weight of steviol glycosides, mix evenly and put into a spray dryer, control the inlet air temperature to 170℃ and the outlet air temperature to 85℃, and dry to make instant tea powder; divide into individual 3g packets, take 1-2 times a day, each time mix 1 packet with 200ml of warm water and drink, suitable for portable scenarios such as going out and business trips, and during acute attacks, the frequency can be increased to 3 times a day.

[0031] Example 7: Preparation of an enhanced composition for acute attack phase Adjust the weight ratio of raw materials: 25 parts acerola cherry powder, 10 parts bellflower powder, 20 parts celery seed powder, 6 parts peppermint leaf extract (10:1 concentrated, low temperature extraction), and 10 parts vitamin C; pre-treat and mix the raw materials according to the method of Example 1 (pass through an 80-mesh sieve, mix at 150 rpm for 20 minutes in a three-dimensional mixer) to obtain an enhanced basic powder for acute attacks; prepare capsules according to the method of Example 2 to enhance anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects, take 3 capsules 3 times a day for 3 consecutive days, and switch to the basic dose after symptom relief.

[0032] Precautions for use 1. Contraindications and precautions: This product is contraindicated for those allergic to plants in the Asteraceae family such as mint and celery; pregnant and lactating women, and those with severe liver or kidney dysfunction should use it with caution and under the guidance of a physician.

[0033] 2. Dietary recommendations: Avoid high-purine foods and alcohol during the course of treatment. Drink ≥2000ml of water daily to promote uric acid excretion. Tea-based formulations should not be taken with strong tea to avoid affecting the absorption of the ingredients.

[0034] 3. Drug interactions: When used in combination with antihypertensive drugs, blood pressure should be monitored regularly; when used in combination with antacids, take them 1 hour apart to avoid affecting vitamin C absorption.

[0035] 4. Storage requirements: Store in a cool, dry place in a sealed container. Granules and instant tea powder should be kept away from light. Once opened, tea bags should be consumed as soon as possible to avoid moisture absorption, which may affect the taste and efficacy.

[0036] It should be noted that, in this document, relational terms such as "first" and "second" are used only to distinguish one entity or operation from another, and do not necessarily require or imply any such actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Furthermore, the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus.

[0037] Although embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions and alterations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A natural plant extract product for treating gout, characterized in that, The raw material components include the following parts by weight: West Indian cherry powder: 10-30 parts, Belle powder: 10-30 parts, Celery seed powder: 10-30 parts, Peppermint leaf extract: 1-10 parts, Vitamin C: 3-15 parts; The concentration ratio of the peppermint leaf extract is 10:1 to 20:1, and it is prepared by low-temperature extraction process.

2. The natural plant extract anti-gout product according to claim 1, characterized in that, The weight ratio of the raw material components is as follows: West Indian cherry powder: 15-25 parts, Belle powder: 15-25 parts, Celery seed powder: 15-25 parts, Peppermint leaf extract: 3-6 parts, Vitamin C: 5-10 parts.

3. A method for preparing a natural plant extract anti-gout product as described in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: Step S1, Raw material pretreatment: Pass the acerola cherry powder, bellflower powder, and celery seed powder through a 60-100 mesh sieve to remove impurities; if the peppermint leaf extract is frozen, thaw it at room temperature and stir it evenly; all plant raw materials are washed and dried at low temperature before processing. Step S2, Mixing: Place the pretreated acerola cherry powder, bellflower powder, celery seed powder, peppermint leaf extract and vitamin C, as well as necessary food-grade or pharmaceutical-grade excipients into a three-dimensional mixer and stir for 15-25 minutes, controlling the material uniformity deviation to ≤2%. The speed of the three-dimensional mixer is 120-180 r / min. Step S3, Molding: Select at least one of the following processing methods according to the target dosage form: 1) Tablet preparation: Add filler and lubricant to the mixture, mix evenly, and then compress into tablets using a tableting machine. The filler is microcrystalline cellulose, and the addition amount is 15%-20% of the weight of the mixture. The lubricant is magnesium stearate, and the addition amount is 0.5%-1.5% of the weight of the mixture. 2) Capsule preparation: Add filler and lubricant to the mixture, mix evenly, and then fill the empty capsule shells using a fully automatic capsule filling machine. The filler is microcrystalline cellulose, and the addition amount is 8%-12% of the weight of the mixture. The lubricant is magnesium stearate, and the addition amount is 0.5%-1.5% of the weight of the mixture. 3) Granule preparation: Add binder to the mixture to form a soft mass, granulate it through a 16-mesh sieve, dry it at 60-70℃ until the moisture content is ≤5%, and obtain granules after granulation. The binder is purified water. Dextrin can also be added as an excipient. The amount of dextrin added is 20%-30% of the weight of the mixture. 4) Bulk powder: The mixed materials are directly packaged; 5) Tea beverage preparation: This includes two types: tea bags and instant tea powder. Tea bags are made by mixing the ingredients with a tea carrier in a ratio of 1:3 to 1:5 and packaging them into individual tea bags of 3-5g each. The tea carrier is green tea fragments or barley tea powder. Instant tea powder is made by mixing the ingredients with maltodextrin and steviol glycosides and then spray-drying them. The inlet air temperature of the spray drying is 160-180℃ and the outlet air temperature is 80-90℃. The tea is then packaged into individual small bags. The amount of maltodextrin added is 50%-60% of the weight of the ingredients, and the amount of steviol glycosides added is 0.5%-1% of the weight of the ingredients.

4. The method for preparing a natural plant extract anti-gout product according to claim 3, characterized in that, In step S1, the raw material is sieved through an 80-mesh screen. In step S2, the stirring time of the three-dimensional mixer is 20 minutes, and the rotation speed is 150 r / min.

5. The method for preparing a natural plant extract anti-gout product according to claim 3, characterized in that, In step S3, the spray drying inlet air temperature for the instant tea powder preparation is 170℃, and the outlet air temperature is 85℃.

6. The use of a natural plant extract anti-gout product as described in claim 1 or 2 in the preparation of anti-gout, uric acid-balancing dietary supplements or nutritional foods.

7. The application according to claim 6, characterized in that, The dietary supplements or nutritional foods mentioned are suitable for patients in the acute attack or remission phase of gout, those with joint stiffness, and people with gout and hypertension.