Salmon Purine Ranking: Lowest to Highest

Lowest Purine Salmon

#1Salmon119.3 mg

#2salmon, mixed species, raw119.4 mg

#3salmon, chum, raw124.7 mg

#4salmon, canned132.9 mg

#5salmon, atlantic, farmed, raw249.9 mg

#6salmon, sockeye, wild, raw259.8 mg

Highest Purine Salmon

#6Salmon119.3 mg

#5salmon, mixed species, raw119.4 mg

#4salmon, chum, raw124.7 mg

#3salmon, canned132.9 mg

#2salmon, atlantic, farmed, raw249.9 mg

#1salmon, sockeye, wild, raw259.8 mg

Category Average: 167.7 mg/100g

The average across 6 Salmon 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

This comparison scores every food on three independent axes — purine content, fructose, and alcohol. Purine figures rely 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 data comes from USDA SR28. Ratings follow ACR 2020: Safe when purine is under 50 mg and fructose under 2 g with no alcohol, Moderate between these, Avoid beyond, or whenever alcohol appears. Per-food data quality is flagged 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

Is salmon good for gout?

Salmon is a nuanced case — its purine content is moderate, but its omega-3 fats have anti-inflammatory effects, and some studies suggest fish rich in omega-3 carries lower gout risk than the purine number alone would predict. Among 6 salmon with measured values, the lowest options include Salmon at 119.3 mg/100g. Most guidance treats salmon as a reasonable moderate-portion choice.

Which salmon is lowest in purines?

The lowest-purine salmon in our database include Salmon at 119.3 mg/100g and salmon, mixed species, raw at 119.4 mg/100g. The differences between salmon varieties are modest — they all sit in the moderate range — so the variety matters less than the portion.

Is canned salmon as good as fresh for gout?

Canned salmon has a similar purine profile to fresh, and it is a convenient source of the same omega-3 fats. The thing to check is added salt and any sauce, which is where a canned product can drift from the fresh version. Plain canned salmon is a reasonable gout-friendly pantry item.

Salmon Ranked by Purine Content