Inflammaging: what it is, why mitochondria matter, and where fasting fits

What is “inflammaging”?“Inflammaging” describes the chronic, low-grade, systemic inflammation that tends to increase with age in the absence of overt infection. It has been linked to higher risk of multiple age-related diseases (e.g., cardiovascular disease, cancer, neurodegeneration). The term was introduced by Claudio Franceschi in 2000, and modern reviews emphasize that it’s a pervasive but variable age-associated state rather than a single disease. PubMed+2PMC+2

Mitochondria ↔ inflammation (the mechanistic link).Age-related mitochondrial dysfunction can promote inflammation via several pathways: excess mitochondrial ROS, release of mitochondrial DNA into the cytosol, and activation of innate immune sensors such as cGAS–STING and the NLRP3 inflammasome. Reviews and experimental studies connect these signals to sterile inflammation seen with aging and age-related disease. ScienceDirect+3PMC+3Nature+3

Health impact.Inflammaging is implicated in cardiovascular aging and other chronic diseases; contemporary field overviews highlight roles for senescent cells, immune remodeling, and mitochondrial stress in this process. Cell

Where do fasting protocols come in?Evidence that intermittent fasting (IF) lowers systemic inflammatory markers exists, but results vary by protocol, population, and whether weight loss occurs:

• Meta-analyses and reviews report modest reductions in CRP and some cytokines with IF or energy restriction, often partly mediated by weight loss. ScienceDirect+1

• Newer syntheses (2024–2025) suggest benefits are protocol-dependent and not uniform across biomarkers; the literature also notes a need for larger, well-controlled trials focused specifically on inflammation endpoints. Wiley Online Library+2ScienceDirect+2

• Early randomized work in specific groups (e.g., postmenopausal women with rheumatoid arthritis) shows improvements in selected inflammatory and oxidative stress markers with a 16:8 regimen, but findings should be interpreted within population and duration limits. Nature

Bottom line (what we can and cannot conclude):

• It’s well-supported that inflammaging exists and is linked to disease risk. PubMed+1

• Mitochondrial dysfunction can activate innate immune pathways that contribute to inflammaging. PMC+1

• Optimized fasting may reduce inflammatory markers in some contexts, with effects influenced by regimen and weight loss; strong, long-term evidence across diverse populations is still limited. I cannot confirm that IF reliably suppresses inflammaging in all people or independently of weight change at this time. Wiley Online Library+2ScienceDirect+2