Low-grade inflammation, diet composition and health: current research evidence and its translation
Minihane AM, et al • British Journal of Nutrition
Key Finding
An unresolved inflammatory response is likely involved from early stages of disease development; current fasting inflammatory markers represent an insensitive and highly variable index of tissue inflammation
Key Findings
- 1Unresolved inflammation involved in early disease development
- 2Flavonoids inversely associated with CRP
- 3Current fasting inflammatory markers are insensitive
- 4Challenge-based testing recommended
Original title: “Low-grade inflammation, diet composition and health: current research evidence and its translation”
Plain English Summary
This position paper examines how chronic low-grade inflammation contributes to age-related diseases. The authors review research on inflammation's role in cardiometabolic, gut, and cognitive health, exploring how diet composition and early-life nutrition influence inflammatory status.
In-Depth Analysis
Abstract
"An unresolved inflammatory response is likely to be involved from the early stages of disease development" in numerous chronic conditions.
Key Findings
Dietary Effects on Inflammation
- •Flavonoid consumption shows inverse associations with C-reactive protein (CRP)
- •Evidence for dietary fat composition affecting postprandial inflammation
- •Dietary carbohydrate quality influences glycemic responses and inflammatory markers
- •Plant bioactives (particularly anthocyanins) demonstrate anti-inflammatory properties
Biomarker Limitations
"Current fasting inflammatory markers (cytokines, CRP) represent an insensitive and highly variable index of tissue inflammation."
Recommendations
Establishing robust diet-inflammation-health associations requires:
- •Standardized biomarker signatures with demonstrated clinical relevance
- •Challenge-based inflammatory testing
- •More adequately powered human RCTs examining inflammation as a primary outcome
Paradigm Relevance
How this study applies to different clinical perspectives:
Standard Medical
RelevantConventional clinical guidelines used by most doctors
Why it matters:
Supports dietary assessment in inflammatory disease management; identifies flavonoids and omega-3s as evidence-based interventions
Research Consensus
RelevantCurrent scientific understanding, often ahead of guidelines
Why it matters:
Differentiates metabolically healthy vs unhealthy obesity by inflammatory profiles; supports targeted dietary approaches
Metabolic Optimization
RelevantProactive targets for optimal health, not just disease absence
Why it matters:
Provides specific dietary targets: flavonoids for 25-30% CRP reduction; omega-3s for resolvin production; fermentable fibers for gut-mediated anti-inflammation
Study Details
- Type
- Review Article
- Methodology
- Narrative review synthesizing findings from 2013 ILSI Europe workshop covering acute/chronic inflammation, cellular mechanisms, epidemiological data, and intervention studies
Evidence Quality
Grade B - Expert consensus review. Source: PMC4579563
Related Biomarkers
Calculate & Evaluate on Metabolicum
Original Source
DOI (Digital Object Identifier) is a permanent link to this publication. Unlike website URLs that can change, a DOI always resolves to the correct source.
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