Nutrition & DietHow Your Diet Fuels or Fights the Chronic Inflammation Driving Aging
Chronic low-grade inflammation, called inflammaging, is now recognized as a central driver of cardiovascular disease, neurodegeneration, and metabolic syndrome. This review examines how specific dietary components either worsen or counteract this process. On the harmful side: advanced glycation end products, trans fats, oxidized lipids, and certain gut-derived metabolites activate inflammatory pathways. On the protective side: polyphenols like quercetin and resveratrol, omega-3 fatty acids, carotenoids, and micronutrients like selenium, zinc, and magnesium work through multiple mechanisms to reduce inflammatory signaling. The authors synthesize evidence from cell studies, animal models, and human clinical trials. While dietary geroprotectors consistently reduce inflammatory biomarkers, clinical proof of lifespan extension in humans remains elusive. The Dietary Inflammatory Index is highlighted as a practical tool for translating this science into real dietary guidance.
