Table 1. Boundary conditions of the IVD used in the finite element analyses.

Parameter	Value		Reference
	Periannular surface
Non-smoking scenario
c Glucose		5 mM	[30]
c O2		5.8 kPa	[37]
c Lactate		0.9 mM	[37]
c I		30.6 nM	[47]
c BP		114.6 nM	[47]
c BC		126.2 nM	[41]
c N		0 nM	-
Smoking scenario	Light	Heavy
c Glucose	3.65 mM	2.15 mM	(*)
c O2	4.23 kPa	2.5 kPa	(*)
c Lactate	0.66 mM	0.39 mM	(*)
c I	22.34 nM	13.16 nM	(*)
c BP	83.66 nM	49.3 nM	(*)
c BC	92.13 nM	54.3 nM	(*)
c N	100 nM	300 nM	[46]
	Cartilage Endplate
Non-smoking scenario
c Glucose		4 mM	[30]
c O2		5.1 kPa	[37]
c Lactate		0.8 mM	[37]
c I		30.6 nM	[47]
c BP		114.6 nM	[47]
c BC		126.2 nM	[41]
c N		0 nM	-
Smoking scenario	Light	Heavy
c Glucose	2.92 mM	1.72 mM	(*)
c O2	3.72 kPa	2.2 kPa	(*)
c Lactate	0.58 mM	0.34 mM	(*)
c I	22.34 nM	13.16 nM	(*)
c BP	83.66 nM	49.3 nM	(*)
c BC	92.13 nM	54.3 nM	(*)
c N	100 nM	300 nM	[46]

(*) Data obtained by deeming solutes’ boundary concentrations to attain oxygen and glucose concentrations in NP of about 70% (‘light smoking’ scenario) or 50% (‘heavy smoking’ scenario) of their normal physiological values [14].