Tuna Ranked by Purine Content

Evidence-based comparison — data from USDA+ODS-NIH PURINE DATABASE Release 2 (March 2025)

Lowest Purine Tuna

#1tuna, canned117.0 mg

#2tuna, raw (unspecified)157.2 mg

#3Tuna157.4 mg

#4tuna (bonito), raw211.2 mg

#5tuna, canned, drained solids211.8 mg

Highest Purine Tuna

#5tuna, canned117.0 mg

#4tuna, raw (unspecified)157.2 mg

#3Tuna157.4 mg

#2tuna (bonito), raw211.2 mg

#1tuna, canned, drained solids211.8 mg

Category Average: 170.9 mg/100g

The average across 5 Tuna 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 tuna bad for gout?

Tuna sits in the moderate-purine range, similar to other oily fish, and its omega-3 content partly offsets the purine concern. Among 5 tuna items with measured values, the lowest options include tuna, canned at 117.0 mg/100g. Moderate portions are the usual advice, rather than treating tuna as a food to avoid.

Is canned tuna high in purines?

Canned tuna is moderate in purines — around 117.0 mg/100g or a bit more depending on the pack. It is not the low-purine choice that white fish is, but it is far below anchovies and sardines. The thing to check in canned tuna is added salt and oil rather than the purine content.

Which tuna is lowest in purines?

The lower-purine tuna options in our database include tuna, canned at 117.0 mg/100g and tuna, raw (unspecified) at 157.2 mg/100g. Preparation matters — plain, water-packed tuna runs lower than oil-packed or sauced versions.