Arthritis is a common health condition involving chronic inflammation in your joints. It causes pain and damage to joints, bones, and other body parts depending on the type.

Osteoarthritis, which is noninflammatory, is the most common though over 100 types exist. In fact, up to 40% of men and 47% of women may be diagnosed with osteoarthritis during their lifetime.

Meanwhile, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and psoriatic arthritis are inflammatory conditions that are considered autoimmune diseases. Gout is another common type of inflammatory arthritis.

Research shows that dietary interventions, such as eliminating certain foods and beverages, may reduce symptom severity in people with inflammatory arthritis and osteoarthritis, as well as improve their overall quality of life.

As alcohol may worsen arthritis symptoms, anyone with inflammatory arthritis should restrict or avoid it.

A study in 278 people with axial spondyloarthritis inflammatory arthritis that primarily affects the spinal cord and sacroiliac (SI) joints tied alcohol intake to increased spinal structural damage.

Studies have also shown that alcohol intake may increase the frequency and severity of gout attacks.

Moreover, chronic alcohol consumption is associated with an increased risk of osteoarthritis, though not all studies have found a significant link.