A group of researchers has urged the public to reconsider following anti-inflammatory food trends aimed at slowing down the ageing process.
Anti-inflammatory foods are specific diets believed to reduce inflammation in the body, promote good health, and help prevent chronic diseases.
“Inflammaging” refers to a chronic, low-grade form of inflammation commonly associated with ageing, while inflammation itself is the body’s natural response to infection and injury.
Some researchers believe that chronic inflammation accelerates ageing and contributes to health conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, arthritis, cancer, and heart disease, noting that many older individuals are prone to inflammation.
However, a new study published in Nature Ageing suggests that chronic inflammation may be more closely linked to lifestyle and environmental factors than to ageing itself.
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Researchers analysed blood samples
Researchers analysed blood samples from around 2,800 adults aged 18 to 95 across four populations: two nonindustrialised groups—the Tsimane of Bolivia and the Orang Asli of Malaysia—and two urban groups from Italy and Singapore.
The study found that inflammation levels in the Tsimane and Orang Asli did not significantly increase with age, unlike in the urban populations. This challenges the notion that inflammation is an inevitable aspect of ageing.
Alan Cohen, a co-author from Columbia University, stressed that the findings reveal how little is truly understood about inflammation.
He cautioned against blindly adopting health trends focused on reducing inflammation, describing the issue as more complex than commonly believed.
Other experts echoed this caution. Vishwa Deep Dixit of Yale University noted that lower exposure to pollution could be a factor, while Bimal Desai of the University of Virginia emphasised the need for further research before redefining the role of inflammation in ageing.
