Whether daily or on special occasions, alcohol consumption remains common in France. According to Santé Publique France, 11.7 liters of alcohol are consumed annually per person (aged 15 and over) in the country.
This minimal, moderate, or excessive consumption of alcohol persists with age and varies with the seasons. In fact, 26% of individuals aged 65–75 report drinking alcohol daily. This older age group is also prone to experiencing varying degrees of joint pain. So, is there a link between alcohol consumption and joint pain?
Joint Pain: What Exactly Is It?
With its 206 bones, 640 muscles, and 400 joints, the human body resembles a high-end Swiss watch, engineered with perfect precision.
Joints are abundant in the human body and act as connection points between two bone ends. They primarily enable skeletal mobility. Joints are essential: without them, moving or getting around would be impossible. More specifically, there are three main types of joints:
- Synarthroses: Also called fibrous joints, synarthroses are immovable joints. These rigid connections link two bones with fibrous tissue.
- Amphiarthroses: Slightly mobile joints, amphiarthroses connect two bone surfaces covered in cartilage, allowing limited movement.
- Diarthroses: Known as synovial joints, diarthroses are mobile joints characterized by an articular cavity and a synovial membrane. These are the most complex joints in the human body.
According to the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research (Inserm), nearly one in two French people experiences joint pain. These joint issues are therefore quite common.
Joint pain is often characterized by stiffness, reduced flexibility, swelling, redness, and loss of mobility. The broad term “joint pain” can be divided into three major categories.
1. Arthritis
Encompassing more than a hundred inflammatory joint diseases, arthritis is a widely recognized medical term. It is primarily caused by an infection or inflammation of the joints, leading to significant pain, particularly when the body is at rest.
Derived from the Greek word arthron (meaning joint), arthritis can affect one or multiple areas of the body. Most commonly, it targets hips, knees, and the spine, causing joint inflammation in these regions.
2. Osteoarthritis
A chronic joint condition that gradually wears away cartilage, osteoarthritis is often characterized by mechanical pain. It frequently affects the knees, hips, neck, and fingers, among other parts of the body.
While the exact causes of osteoarthritis remain unclear, it is a major societal issue impacting over 10 million people in France (65% of those aged 65 and older). Nonetheless, several risk factors for osteoarthritis have been identified:
- Overweight or obesity
- Anatomical abnormalities
- Joint trauma
- And more
As you can see, arthritis and osteoarthritis have distinct differences, even though they both affect the joints of the human body.
3. Traumatic Origin
This category, equally common, is typically triggered by a shock, a blow, an accident, or a fall. Known traumatic causes include sprains, dislocations, and strains...
Is Alcohol Responsible for Joint Pain?
A genuine human indulgence, alcohol consumption, like all pleasures, comes with both benefits and downsides (e.g., insomnia, reduced melatonin levels...). The benefits of alcohol divide the scientific community: some researchers suggest that moderate, controlled consumption might support cardiovascular, diabetic (type 2), joint, and cognitive health in older adults. Others argue that any alcohol, regardless of the amount, is harmful to the human body.
When it comes to joint pain, alcohol can have either positive or negative effects depending on consumption patterns. According to some studies, moderate alcohol intake may lower the risk of arthritis and even alleviate its symptoms.
Supporting this idea, several scientific studies have been conducted. Among them, a meta-analysis (a combination of multiple scientific studies) explored alcohol's protective effect on the development of rheumatoid arthritis.
This meta-analysis, which included nine studies and thousands of participants, demonstrated a significant protective effect of alcohol against the risk of rheumatoid arthritis (a chronic inflammatory joint disease). Although the findings are limited to case-control studies and require further research, it suggests that moderate alcohol consumption contributes to joint health protection.
Another study, published in February 2002, seeks to answer a straightforward question: Is alcohol consumption beneficial or harmful in rheumatic diseases? Conducted by N. Sofat and A. Keat, this study presents a more negative perspective, demonstrating that alcohol accelerates bodily degradation and facilitates the progression of rheumatic diseases.
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Alcohol: Inflammatory or Anti-Inflammatory Effect?
According to some studies, more or less thorough, alcohol could potentially have an anti-inflammatory effect on the body. This claim holds true only if alcohol consumption remains moderate and controlled. Conversely, excessive alcohol intake proves to be inflammatory and potentially harmful to the human body.
Uncontrolled heavy drinking can worsen conditions such as arthritis or gout. Due to their high sugar content, certain alcoholic beverages like beer, cider, wine, or champagne lead to the release of inflammatory markers (cytokines) in the body.
A study conducted by the UK group Action on Sugar found that some alcoholic beverages can contain more than 35-40g (eight teaspoons) of sugar. Yet, the daily recommended sugar intake should not exceed 30g (seven teaspoons).
Besides potential inflammatory and joint-related issues, alcohol also hampers muscle recovery and development. In hindsight, the real concern isn't alcohol consumption itself but rather the quantity consumed and whether it is daily or weekly. Excessive alcohol intake poses significant health risks.
Alcohol consumption should remain moderate to avoid the excess that causes most of these detrimental effects on the body. Overindulgence in alcohol disrupts the immune system and exacerbates arthritis problems. For individuals with chronic joint conditions such as osteoarthritis, alcohol is strongly discouraged. Instead, it is advisable to drink plenty of water.
What is the Right Consumption?
There’s no perfect or universally ideal alcohol consumption guideline. However, it is advisable to follow some basic rules:
- Limit daily alcohol intake to one glass for regular drinkers.
- Do not exceed two glasses per day for occasional drinkers.
- Ensure at least one or two alcohol-free days per week.
- Avoid consuming more than seven glasses per week.
By moderating alcohol consumption, you may benefit from its potential advantages without encountering the negative effects. It’s also important to drink water alongside alcohol and to recognize that no level of alcohol consumption is entirely risk-free. Moderation remains essential.
To minimize joint-related issues, certain types of alcohol might be worth avoiding. For instance, limiting beer consumption could reduce the risk of gonarthrosis and coxarthrosis, while wine may have protective effects for the knees and hips.
Natural Solutions for Joint Pain?
Several natural remedies are available to soothe the body and relieve joint pain. One such solution is Solaflex, which targets joints, bones, tendons, ligaments, synovial fluid, and cartilage.
Developed by the Solage Laboratory, Solaflex is a natural dietary supplement designed to enhance mobility and reduce joint pain.
Solaflex combines various natural active ingredients, each with a specific purpose:
- Methylsulfonylmethane (an organic sulfur compound): for relieving joint pain.
- Eggshell membrane: for maintaining flexibility and joint tissue mobility.
- Vitamin C: for its cardiovascular, joint, and immune system benefits.
- Etc.
Similarly, other dietary supplements, such as curcumin (naturally optimized and known as Turmipure Gold BIO), can also be viable solutions. Beyond Solage products, other natural remedies for joint pain relief exist, such as thermal treatments and herbal remedies.
References :
- A Bradlow, A G Mowat - Alcohol consumption in arthritic patients: clinical and laboratory studies - Ann Rheum Dis - 1985 Mar ; 44(3):163-8
- Kendrick To, Christopher Mak, Chen Zhang, Yuhui Zhou, Stephanie Filbay and Wasim Khan - The association between alcohol consumption and osteoarthritis: a meta-analysis and meta-regression of observational studies - Rheumatol Int - 2021 ; 41(9): 1577–1591.
- Kendall K. Morgan - How Does Alcohol Affect Rheumatoid Arthritis ? - Rheumatoid Arthritis - May 16
- Kim, Seong-Kyu MD, Jisuk MD, Choe, Jung-Yoon MD - The relationship between alcohol consumption and knee osteoarthritis in Korean population over 50 years-old / Results from Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey - Medicine - February 12 2021 - Volume 100 - Issue 6 - p e24746
- Hannah VanEvery, Wenhao Yang,Nancy Olsen, Le Bao, Bing Lu, Shouling Wu,Liufu Cui and Xiang Gao - Alcohol Consumption and Risk of Rheumatoid Arthritis among Chinese Adults: A Prospective Study - Nutrients - 2021 ; 13(7), 2231