Systemic Inflammation Reduction Protocol

Inflammaging — the chronic, low-grade sterile inflammation that accumulates with age — is now recognized as a central mechanism of biological aging itself. Unlike acute inflammation (which is protective and resolves), chronic inflammation driven by senescent cells, microbiome dysbiosis, metabolic disturbance, and accumulated cellular damage continuously erodes tissue function across every organ system.

The primary sources of chronic inflammation in modern adults are surprisingly addressable: excess adipose tissue (particularly visceral fat, which functions as an endocrine organ secreting pro-inflammatory cytokines), disrupted sleep, sedentary behavior, ultra-processed food consumption, chronic stress, and gut dysbiosis. Addressing these root causes is more impactful than any anti-inflammatory supplement.

Dietary intervention is a cornerstone approach. The Mediterranean and anti-inflammatory dietary patterns consistently reduce hsCRP by 20–40% in intervention studies. Specific components include omega-3 fatty acids (which are precursors to anti-inflammatory resolvins and protectins), polyphenols from berries, olive oil, and green tea, and dietary fiber that feeds short-chain fatty acid-producing gut bacteria. Conversely, refined carbohydrates, trans fats, and processed meats reliably elevate inflammatory markers.

Senolytics represent a newer class of interventions targeting inflammation at its source. Senescent cells — cells that have ceased dividing but resist apoptosis — accumulate in aging tissues and secrete the SASP (senescence-associated secretory phenotype), a cocktail of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Dasatinib + quercetin and fisetin are the best-studied senolytic combinations, with early human data suggesting reductions in senescent cell burden and associated inflammatory markers.