Dietary bioactive compounds and inflammaging: Pro-inflammatory triggers and geroprotective countermeasures

Chronic low-grade inflammation ("inflammaging") is a key driver of age-related pathologies including cardiovascular disease, neurodegeneration, and metabolic syndrome. Diet plays a dual role in modulating this process, acting both as a source of pro-inflammatory molecular patterns and as a delivery system for geroprotective compounds.

This review examines the pro-inflammatory dietary components (advanced glycation end products, lipid peroxidation products, oxysterols, trans fats, and microbiome-derived metabolites) that activate pattern recognition receptors and trigger inflammatory cascades, as well as the anti-inflammatory mechanisms of bioactive dietary compounds including polyphenols, omega-3 fatty acids, carotenoids, vitamins, and essential microelements. Evidence from cellular, animal, and clinical studies is synthesized to evaluate dietary interventions for healthy aging. PubMed and Google Scholar were systematically searched from inception through November 2025, with evidence quality and translational limitations critically appraised throughout.

Pro-inflammatory dietary components activate nuclear factor-kappa B pathways, while geroprotective compounds demonstrate potent anti-inflammatory properties through multiple mechanisms: polyphenols (quercetin, EGCG, resveratrol, curcumin) inhibit pro-inflammatory signaling and activate sirtuin and Nrf2 pathways; omega-3 fatty acids reduce pro-inflammatory eicosanoids and increase specialized pro-resolving mediators; carotenoids, vitamins, and microelements (selenium, zinc, magnesium) suppress oxidative stress and modulate immune function. These dietary geroprotectors reduce inflammatory biomarkers in cellular and animal models, while clinical evidence in humans remains largely restricted to biomarker and healthspan-related endpoints rather than demonstrated lifespan extension. Optimized nutrition-emphasizing fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, whole grains, and omega-3-rich foods while limiting refined sugars and trans fats-represents a cornerstone intervention for mitigating inflammaging and promoting healthy longevity, with the Dietary Inflammatory Index providing a translational framework for implementation.