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The Western lifestyle has lasting effects on metaflammation

Nature Reviews Immunology volume 19, pages 267–268 (2019)Cite this article

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Chronic consumption of a Western diet along with sedentary behaviour causes chronic metabolic inflammation (termed metaflammation) and is ‘memorized’ by innate immune cells through long-lasting metabolic and epigenetic cellular reprogramming. Lifestyle-associated pathologies have reached epidemic proportions and require a better understanding of the causes of metaflammation and ways to translate this to measures that protect the public from unhealthy diets.

Thanks to modern medicine and public health measures, human life expectancy is much better today than it was 100 years ago. But an extended lifespan is accompanied by increases in a different set of diseases: the non-communicable and disabling diseases of old age such as cardiovascular disease, cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. Moreover, diseases linked to lifestyle changes, such as type 2 diabetes, obesity and chronic liver disease, are growing to epidemic proportions. A key risk factor for these diseases is a Western diet, typically described as high in calories and rich in sugars, trans and saturated fats, salt and food additives, but low in complex carbohydrates, fibre, vitamins and minerals. For the first time ever, life expectancy is projected to decline1,2. It is likely that this downward trend will accelerate as a result of the detrimental effects of the Western lifestyle on the health of the current generation of children3. Hence, the extension of healthy life by the promotion of effective preventive measures as well as novel treatments for non-communicable diseases should be urgent goals of public health efforts.

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Fig. 1: Risk factors and mitigation for metaflammation.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the European Research Council consolidator grant InflammAct, the US National Institutes of Health grant 1R01HL112661 and grants provided by the Deutsche Forschungsgesellschaft EXC2151 — 390873048, SFB 1123; TRRs 83, 57.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Innate Immunity, University Hospitals, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany

    Anette Christ & Eicke Latz

  2. Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA

    Anette Christ & Eicke Latz

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  1. Anette Christ
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  2. Eicke Latz
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Correspondence to Eicke Latz.

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E.L. is co-founder and consultant of IFM Therapeutics. A.C. declares no competing interests.

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Christ, A., Latz, E. The Western lifestyle has lasting effects on metaflammation. Nat Rev Immunol 19, 267–268 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41577-019-0156-1

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