Inflammaging and the role of micronutrients as immunomodulators: a pathway to healthy aging

Healthy aging is increasingly challenged by inflammaging, a chronic, low‑grade inflammatory state primarily exacerbated by gut microbiota dysbiosis and declining immune function. Persistent digestive and systemic inflammation, along with immunosenescence, contributes to multiple age‑related diseases. Micronutrients regulate key components of immune system and support the composition and function of the gut microbiota, underscoring their emerging role as modulators of inflammaging.

This narrative review synthesizes current evidence insights on how micronutrients regulate cellular and molecular drivers of inflammaging, with emphasis on immune function and gut microbiota imbalance. Adequate intakes of vitamins A, B‑complex, C, D, E, and K, together with trace elements (zinc, selenium, magnesium, iron, and copper), supports both innate and adaptive immune response, genomic and epigenetic stability, mitochondrial efficiency, telomere integrity, and immune regulation. Importantly, micronutrients influence gut microbial composition and inflammatory signaling pathways, thereby mitigating dysbiosis-driven digestive inflammation, a major contributor to systemic inflammaging. The review also delineates the bidirectional micronutrient-microbiome relationship, whereby microbial composition shapes nutrient bioavailability, while micronutrients influence microbial diversity, short‑chain fatty acid production, and inflammatory signaling.

Micronutrient sufficiency may help reduce digestive inflammation, restore microbial balance, and modulate immune pathways implicated in inflammaging. However, translating these benefits requires robust assessment of micronutrient status and gut microbiota. Developing standardized evaluation and microbiota‑informed nutrition strategies may enable more precise targeted interventions to support healthy aging.