Higher intake of proteins from plant foods may help guard against excessive chronic inflammation and oxidative stress associated with aging.

​Chronic inflammation and oxidative stress are believed to play a major role in the aging process. This study looked at the effect of dietary proteins on blood levels of markers of inflammation and oxidative stress. A total of 2,061 middle-aged men and women recruited from the Framingham Heart Study Offspring Cohort participated in this study and their diets and serum concentrations of biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress were assessed. 

Researchers observed that swapping plant proteins for animal proteins resulted in a decline in the circulating levels of markers of inflammation and oxidative stress. This study highlights the important role plant foods play in reducing the inflammatory burden associated with aging.