Chronic inflammation and your immune genes

Inflammation is the body’s repair response. The problem is when it never fully switches off, leaving a low, constant background level that, over years, contributes to heart disease, metabolic problems and ageing itself.

Helpful in bursts, harmful when chronic

Acute inflammation fights infection and heals injury, then resolves. Chronic, low-grade inflammation is different: it persists silently, and it is now recognised as a shared driver behind cardiovascular disease, type-2 diabetes and accelerated ageing.

IL6, TNFA and CRP set your baseline

Your inflammatory tone is partly genetic. Promoter variants in IL6 and TNFA change how much of these signalling molecules you produce, and CRP reflects the resulting systemic level. Pro-inflammatory genotypes sit at a higher baseline for the same lifestyle.

Why it matters

A higher inflammatory baseline compounds over a lifetime. Knowing you carry pro-inflammatory variants reframes anti-inflammatory habits from optional to genuinely high-value, because they are working against a stronger headwind.

What actually helps

The evidence-backed levers are omega-3 fatty acids, a polyphenol-rich diet, adequate vitamin D, maintaining a healthy weight, and regular exercise, all of which lower inflammatory signalling. Genetics tell you how much it is worth doubling down.

The science, in depth

Promoter polymorphisms in IL6 (e.g. -174G>C) and TNFA modulate inducible cytokine expression, while CRP and IL1RN variants shape systemic inflammatory readouts. Together they influence baseline low-grade inflammation, underpinning genotype-personalised anti-inflammatory nutrient recommendations.