What is cartilage and why does it not grow back?
Cartilage (articular cartilage) is a smooth, elastic tissue that covers the ends of bones inside a joint. It acts as a gliding surface and shock absorber. Because it has no blood vessels of its own, it can regenerate only to a very limited extent.
Cartilage explained simply
In everyday language, “cartilage” in the joint context usually means articular cartilage: a layer a few millimetres thick on the joint surfaces of the knee, hip or fingers. It lets bones glide with little friction and spreads mechanical load.
The tissue is mostly water, plus collagen fibres and proteoglycans that bind the water. This structure makes cartilage elastic: it yields under pressure and springs back afterwards. Specialised cells called chondrocytes maintain it, but they are sparse.
Why does cartilage recover so poorly?
Articular cartilage has no direct blood supply and no nerves. Nutrients reach it mainly through the joint fluid, driven by movement and changing load. With so few vessels and cells, its capacity for repair is low. Cartilage that is lost generally does not grow back with the same quality.
Because articular cartilage itself has no nerves, joint pain usually arises from other structures: the joint lining, the bone beneath it, or tendons and ligaments. Visible cartilage damage and perceived pain are therefore not always closely linked.
Cartilage in osteoarthritis
In osteoarthritis the cartilage layer becomes rougher and thinner over the years. The bone underneath responds, and the joint can become inflamed from time to time, which is called activated osteoarthritis. Typical features are start-up pain and stiffness, for example morning stiffness.
Whether a substance affects symptoms is usually measured in studies with pain and function questionnaires such as the WOMAC index – not by the condition of the cartilage itself. Our assessment in the article on turmeric and osteoarthritis is clear: lost cartilage does not grow back just because you take a spice or supplement. What studies look at is how inflammatory processes and symptoms in the joint are affected.
What keeps cartilage healthy
The best-established factors are movement and a healthy body weight: regular, joint-friendly loading supports nutrient supply, while excess weight increases load on knee and hip. If you have joint complaints, see a doctor; this text is not medical advice.
Cartilage in research
Research has long sought ways to preserve or replace cartilage, for example by cell transplantation or biomaterials. For food supplements, there is no proven formation of new articular cartilage in humans. Credible statements are limited to symptoms and function.
Frequently asked questions about cartilage
Can cartilage regenerate? Only to a very limited degree. Small defects may fill with lower-quality replacement tissue; original articular cartilage generally does not form anew. Surgical procedures exist, and their suitability depends on the individual case.
Why does a joint crack or click? Noises alone are usually harmless. They are no reliable sign of cartilage damage, especially without pain or swelling.
Is cartilage wear inevitable? The tissue changes with age, but extent and symptoms vary greatly. Genetics, past injuries, load and body weight all play a role.
