Chronic inflammation: sources, lab markers, and natural ways to reduce it

Sneaking beneath most chronic diseases lies a problem that most of us fail to recognize. It can cause pain, sleep loss, exhaustion, and weight gain. It is also a debilitating factor in diseases like diabetes, arthritis, heart conditions, autoimmune disorders, cancer, Alzheimer’s, and other neurological diseases.¹

The main point? It impacts every chronic illness, but controlling it could prevent those very same illnesses. Properly managing this one thing can dramatically change the outcomes for those who suffer chronically. Okay, okay — you probably already know the answer from the title and the bold fonts… I’m talking about inflammation.

Inflammation has become a hot topic in the world of health. Years ago, leaky gut was known to be the source of illness; inflammation is today’s leaky gut. If you’ve done health-related research, you’ve most likely stumbled across the term “inflammation.” This whole concept is nothing new — it’s something functional practitioners have recognized and worked with for several years.

What is inflammation?

Inflammation plays a vital role in your body’s attempt to heal and defend itself. It is a process in which the body’s own immune cells release chemicals in response to an injury or foreign substance. During this immune response, inflammation surrounds tissues. There are two types:

What causes inflammation?

• Injury / tissue destruction — a bump or scrape, a burn, surgery, or the destruction of tissue brought on by an autoimmune condition.
• Exercise — initially, exercise creates an inflammatory response that drives the body to heal and create new tissue. Those who are inflamed will have poor muscle recovery when working out.
• Infections — pathogens elicit an immune response; once the pathogen and its byproducts are eliminated, inflammation drops. In a chronic infection, the immune system is constantly engaging with the pathogen, leading to chronic conditions and elevated inflammation markers.
• Diet — certain foods elicit an inflammatory response because of their composition (like wheat, dairy, and sugar) and/or because of an immune reaction to them.
• Stress — stress creates an inflammatory response in the body. Chronic stress = chronic inflammation.
• Environmental toxins — exposure to toxic chemicals, metals, and molds can trigger an immune response that creates inflammation until the toxin is removed.
• NF-kB amplifying loop — nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-kB) is a protein that controls DNA transcription and is involved in all mechanisms of inflammation. It has been shown to promote insulin resistance, obesity, and intestinal permeability.^2,3 Once activated, the loop can persist and encourage chronic inflammation on its own, and NF-kB is found to be chronically active in many inflammatory conditions.⁴

What lab markers show inflammation?

Several proteins are altered during an inflammatory state, known as acute-phase reactants (APRs). They change in response to an increase of cytokines like IL-1, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF. Some of these markers appear on routine blood tests, and identifying them gives a healthcare professional insight into how inflamed someone may be — and where to look next for the cause.

APRs that increase with inflammation are called positive acute-phase reactants; those that decrease are negative acute-phase reactants. In an acute situation, these markers fluctuate and then return to normal once the injury or infection heals. In chronic conditions like autoimmune disease, the inflammation continues for months or years, so these markers stay abnormal for a prolonged period.

All ranges given are functional lab ranges, not necessarily local lab ranges. Functional ranges are typically tighter and reflect optimal ranges for health.

How can I reduce inflammation?

Remove or correct what’s driving it

The causative agent needs to be taken care of. If it’s a food, removing it will dampen the immune response driving the inflammation. If it’s an infection, the infection needs to be dealt with. If it’s an autoimmune condition (they are very inflammatory in nature), working with a functional practitioner trained to deal with autoimmunity is important.

Blood sugar dysregulation, even minor, can contribute to inflammation throughout the body — and inflammation can, in turn, cause blood sugar dysregulation. Symptoms can include sleep issues, anxiety, brain fog, low energy, and sugar cravings.

Diet

Eating an anti-inflammatory diet like Paleo or Autoimmune Paleo (AIP) is a crucial foundation that should not be skipped. Thankfully, these diets have gained a lot of popularity in the past decade, making recipes and shopping lists readily available online.

Inflammation-reducing supplements

There are a number of different anti-inflammatories. The right combination and dose look different for everybody. Here are a few that pack quite a punch:

• Curcumin and resveratrol — curcumin, the most abundant curcuminoid in turmeric, is a strong anti-inflammatory that has been found as effective as some drugs for inflammation,^6,7 and it’s a powerful NF-kB loop inhibitor with anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties.⁸ Resveratrol, an antioxidant found in grape skins (richest source: Japanese Knotweed), has impressive anti-inflammatory, immunomodulating, and osteoprotective abilities.^9,10
• Vitamin D — long known for bone health, it also has potent anti-inflammatory properties, and vitamin D receptors are found on all our immune cells. Those with chronic inflammatory conditions are often found to have low vitamin D status.^11,12 I can back this up with my own experience — I often find low vitamin D status in those with chronic inflammatory conditions.
• Glutathione — an important antioxidant found in large quantities in most tissues, especially the liver. Your body produces its own, but over time the stressors above can deplete it, and low glutathione has been found in those with chronic illness.^13,14,15 Replenishing it is crucial in recovery from chronic illness and can help prevent illness.

If you think you are experiencing inflammation of any kind, please reach out to schedule an appointment and get tested. Discovering causes now can prevent chronic illnesses from developing down the road.