Inflammaging and Sarcopenia as Interconnected Hallmarks of Aging: Integrative Roles of Bioactive Compounds and Lifestyle Interventions.

Background/

Objectives

Age-related functional decline is increasingly linked to chronic low-grade inflammation (inflammaging) and sarcopenia, two interconnected processes contributing to frailty, metabolic dysregulation, and impaired physical function. These conditions share several underlying mechanisms, including immune dysregulation, mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and impaired anabolic signaling. This narrative review critically evaluated the mechanistic and translational interactions between natural bioactive compounds and lifestyle interventions in modulating inflammaging and sarcopenia.

Methods

Evidence from molecular, experimental, epidemiological, and clinical studies was synthesized to examine the effects of bioactive compounds-including polyphenols, flavonoids, carotenoids, and omega-3 fatty acids-as well as physical activity and dietary patterns. Particular emphasis was placed on inflammatory regulation, redox homeostasis, mitochondrial adaptation, and muscle metabolism, including NF-κB, AMPK-mTOR, and Nrf2 signaling pathways.

Results

Observational studies and randomized controlled trials generally indicate that anti-inflammatory dietary patterns and regular physical activity are associated with improved muscle strength, physical performance, and inflammatory status in older adults. Mechanistically, nutritional bioactives and exercise appear to converge on several pathways involved in mitochondrial function, oxidative stress, anabolic signaling, and immune activation. Emerging evidence suggests potential convergence and interaction of biological pathways affected by nutritional and lifestyle interventions; however, formal evidence demonstrating true synergistic effects in humans remains limited. Nevertheless, substantial heterogeneity persists regarding intervention protocols, dosage strategies, bioavailability, and long-term clinical outcomes.

Conclusions

Natural bioactive compounds and lifestyle-based interventions represent promising approaches for targeting biological processes implicated in inflammaging and sarcopenia. By integrating current evidence within a hormesis-oriented geroscience framework, this review highlights the importance of adaptive redox regulation, metabolic resilience, and evidence-based lifestyle strategies in healthy aging. Future well-designed longitudinal and intervention studies are needed to clarify the clinical relevance of these interactions and optimize translational implementation.