Arthrosis develops from an imbalance between the load capacity of a joint and the actual load. The causes of primary osteoarthritis develop without a recognisable cause. It represents the classic, age-related arthrosis.
Here, cartilage abrasion is mainly determined by genetic factors. If you like, there are different grades of joint cartilage (hyaline cartilage), which sooner or later is affected by wear and tear. The causes of secondary arthrosis are the consequences of malalignment, accidents with permanent joint damage or infections and many more.
The joint cartilage has no blood vessels. This means that it is nourished by the synovial fluid and the vessels of the bone. This also explains the poor healing power of the joint cartilage.
The fibrous structure of the cartilage is such that loads are distributed evenly over the cartilage. A healthy load is even necessary for the nutrition of the cartilage, because by loading and unloading the cartilage, similar to a sponge, is pressed out and thus the nutrition via the synovial fluid is improved. Basically, the following causes of arthrosis can be distinguished:
Importance of alcohol
In many cases, alcohol is considered a risk factor for diseases, as is the case here with arthrosis. Although arthrosis is the result of degeneration of the articular cartilage, which is mainly caused mechanically by incorrect or excessive loading, the regeneration of the joint surfaces can also be reduced in some cases. Overloading can be caused by an unhealthy lifestyle, which includes overweight, unhealthy nutrition, lack of exercise, smoking and even alcohol.
Alcohol in turn promotes overweight due to its high calorie count and increased hunger. It is also harmful to the tissue and especially to the already poorly supplied joint cartilage. The supply of oxygen and other metabolic products is reduced and therefore damaged cartilage is less able to recover.
Alcohol is therefore doubly harmful and promotes the development of arthrosis. This usually applies to a significant excess of alcohol or in combination with other risk factors. A theory on the causes of osteoarthritis states that incorrect nutrition could have an influence on the development of osteoarthritis.
The theory says that over-acidification of the body could increase the breakdown of collagen and joint cartilage. Excessive consumption of, for example, sausage and meat products, as well as alcohol, sugar, caffeine, cereal products (such as bakery and pasta products) and ready-made meals with synthetic food additives could promote the development of arthrosis. There is still very little research on this topic and the influence of diet on osteoarthritis is very controversial.
However, diet does indeed appear to be an indirect cause of osteoarthritis, as overweight is caused by incorrect nutrition (for example, excessive sugar consumption and overall calorie intake) and too little exercise. In turn, being overweight leads to increased stress on the joints and thus intensifies the process of wear and tear in osteoarthritis. In addition, malnutrition can lead to a poor supply of nutrients to the cartilage tissue, which can also be a cause of arthrosis.
