Citrus Fruits Fructose Ranking: Lowest to Highest

Lowest Fructose Citrus Fruits

Highest Fructose Citrus Fruits

#11oranges, navel, yes - sugar, nfy01076f1.9 g

#10oranges, navel, raw2.0 g

#9oranges, navel, raw2.1 g

#8grapefruit, raw2.3 g

#7oranges, raw, navels2.4 g

#6oranges, navel, yes - sugar, nfy0107462.4 g

#5oranges, navel, raw2.5 g

#4oranges, navel, yes - sugar, nfy01075p2.6 g

#3oranges, navel, yes - sugar, nfy01074y2.6 g

#2oranges, navel, raw2.7 g

Category Average: 2.3 g/100g

The average across 11 Citrus Fruits foods with lab-measured data. Foods below this average are better-than-typical choices within this category.

How to Use This Ranking

The purine ranking is sorted from lowest to highest. Rank #1 is the lowest-purine food in the category. Foods in the top half (above median) should be consumed with more awareness of portion and frequency. The difference between adjacent ranks varies: in some categories, rank #5 and #10 might be only 10 mg apart; in others, the gap can be 100+ mg. Always check the actual milligram value, not just the position. Rankings do not account for fructose or alcohol — use individual food pages for a complete risk assessment.

ACR 2020 Guideline Context

The American College of Rheumatology recommends that gout patients focus on purine awareness rather than complete food group elimination. Within any category, there is a wide purine range. The goal is to shift toward lower-purine choices within categories you already eat, rather than eliminating entire food groups. This ranking helps you identify which specific items to prioritize and which to limit.

Japanese guidelines recommend under 400 mg of total dietary purines per day. Using this ranking, you can estimate how much of budget each food uses per typical serving.

How This Comparison Is Built

Each item here is scored by a three-factor risk engine covering purines, fructose, and alcohol. Purine values draw on the USDA+ODS-NIH PURINE DATABASE Release 2 (March 2025) and Kaneko et al. (Biol Pharm Bull 37(5):709-721, 2014, PMID: 24553148); fructose comes from USDA SR28 tables. Classification uses ACR 2020 thresholds — Safe under 50 mg purine and 2 g fructose with no alcohol, Moderate in between, Avoid above, or when alcohol is present. Each food page labels its data quality as T1 (lab-measured), T2 (measured plus consensus), or T3 (category estimate).

This comparison is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Individual tolerance to purines and fructose varies. Consult a healthcare professional for personalized dietary guidance. Last reviewed: 2026-09-03.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which citrus fruits are lowest in fructose?

Among 11 citrus items with measured fructose in our database, the lowest-fructose options include clementines, raw at 1.6 g/100g and oranges, navel, yes - sugar, nfy01076f at 1.9 g/100g. Lemons and limes tend to run lower than oranges and grapefruit.

Is orange juice bad for gout?

Orange juice concentrates the natural fructose of oranges — and the ACR 2020 guideline specifically advises limiting sugary drinks, including fruit juices. Whole oranges with their fiber are a much better choice than juice. The ranking above shows whole citrus values; juice is a separate, higher-fructose category.

Are citrus fruits good for gout?

Whole citrus fruits are generally good for gout: very low in purines, rich in vitamin C (which some research associates with lower urate), and hydrating. The main caveat is portion for the sweeter varieties and avoiding fruit juices. Citrus is a solid part of a gout-friendly fruit rotation.

Citrus Fruits Ranked by Fructose Content