Purine content of Noodles & pasta
across 9 measured preparations · median 12.1 mg · spans low to fairly low
Across the 9 noodles & pasta measurements in this database, purine content runs from 0.6 to 36 mg per 100 g, with a median of 12.1 mg — a low-purine food.
On this page (4)
Why the numbers vary
The grains and staples measured here run from 1 mg to 75.9 mg per 100 g, so the category is a poor guide on its own — which specific food, and prepared how, decides almost everything.
Preparation matters more than the food's name. Instant noodles measures 36 mg, while Gelatin noodle (dried) measures 0.6 mg — a difference of 60.0 times. Drying and grilling remove water and concentrate what is left; boiling can move purines into water that is then poured away.
Every form of noodles & pasta measured (9)
Highest first, each with the preparation that was measured.
| Food as measured | Per 100 g | Level | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Instant noodles | 36 mg | Fairly low | NHC 2024 |
| Soup, ramen noodle, dry | 32.6 mg | Fairly low | ODS-NIH 2.0 |
| Ramen, noodle | 21.6 mg | Low | ODS-NIH 2.0 |
| Dried noodles | 21 mg | Low | NHC 2024 |
| Udon (wheat noodles) | 12.1 mg | Low | ODS-NIH 2.0 |
| Soba (buckwheat noodles) | 7.6 mg | Low | ODS-NIH 2.0 |
| Spaghetti | 6.8 mg | Low | ODS-NIH 2.0 |
| Dried sweet potato noodles | 2 mg | Low | NHC 2024 |
| Gelatin noodle (dried) | 0.6 mg | Low | ODS-NIH 2.0 |
Questions about noodles & pasta and purines
Is pasta high in purines?
Median 12.1 mg per 100 g, pasta falls in the low band (under 30 mg per 100 g) on the six-level scale used across this site. Individual measurements range from 0.6 to 36 mg.
How many purines are in a serving of pasta?
It depends entirely which preparation. Compared at the same 150 g: about 1 mg for gelatin noodle (dried), about 54 mg for instant noodles. That upper figure is a like-for-like comparison rather than a serving — dried and concentrated foods are normally used by the spoonful, so their per-100 g value is the fairer read. The table on this page lists both for every preparation measured.
Does cooking change the purine content of pasta?
Substantially. In this database Instant noodles measures 36 mg while Gelatin noodle (dried) measures 0.6 mg per 100 g. Drying and grilling concentrate purines by removing water; boiling can leach some into the cooking liquid.
Where does this pasta purine value come from?
Dietary Guideline for Adults with Hyperuricaemia and Gout (2024 Edition) and USDA and ODS-NIH Database for the Purine Content of Foods, Release 2.0 (2025). Values are total purines in milligrams per 100 g of the food as described, and nothing is estimated or averaged across sources.
How does pasta compare with other grains and staples?
The median for grains and staples in this database is 19 mg per 100 g, with a range of 1 to 75.9 mg. Noodles & pasta is below that median.
Source
- Dietary Guideline for Adults with Hyperuricaemia and Gout (2024 Edition) — National Health Commission of China, appendix 1. Issued February 2024.
- USDA and ODS-NIH Database for the Purine Content of Foods, Release 2.0 (2025) — Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Reference information only. Purine values describe foods, not people: they cannot tell you what is safe for you to eat, and nothing here diagnoses or treats gout. Talk to your doctor or dietitian about your own diet and medication.