Eel
Seafood — purine content 117mg per 100g
Medium Purine
117
mg/100g
Yes, in moderation (up to 100g per meal).
Diet Advice
Eel measures about 117mg of purine per 100g, which places it in the medium-purine band alongside chicken and tuna rather than in the high-purine group. Keep portions small (50–80g) and infrequent, and leave it out entirely during a flare.
Recommended Preparation
Grilled or steamed in small portions. Avoid sweet glazes such as kabayaki sauce — the added sugar raises uric acid independently of purine.
Low Purine Alternatives
Data source: USDA FoodData Central; Yang YX, China Food Composition Tables (6th ed.) 2019; HK Sanatorium Dietetic Unit, Gout. Purine value: 117mg per 100g of Eel (Medium purine, yellow zone).
See the full purine food classification table for all 142 foods, or read the low purine diet guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Eel: is it high in purines?
Eel: 117mg of purines per 100g, in the medium band (50-150mg/100g) used on this site. This is a food to portion rather than ban: smaller servings, less often, and sparingly during a flare.
Can I eat Eel during a gout flare?
During a flare the usual advice is to leave Eel out, or keep the portion small: at 117mg per 100g it sits in the medium band, and a flare is when purine intake is kept lowest. Between flares a moderate portion is a more reasonable fit.
What are the best low-purine alternatives to Eel?
Lower-purine options to use in place of Eel include: Cod. They give comparable nutrition with noticeably less purine per 100g, which makes everyday meals easier to plan.