Cooper Clinic Physicians on Supplements That Help Fight Chronic Inflammation (9 min.)

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Inflammation is a natural immune system response that helps protect the body against infection, illness, or injury. According to Kenneth H. Cooper, MD, MPH, Founder and Chairman of Cooper Aerobics, “acute inflammation, such as when you have a sore throat or cut your finger, is short-lived, and usually resolves within hours or days. However, following acute inflammation, an individual could develop long-term smoldering inflammation called systemic chronic inflammation, which causes a multitude of medical problems.”

Summary: Chronic inflammation can place long-term stress on the body’s tissues and systems†. Learn the differences between acute and chronic inflammation, lifestyle and environmental triggers, and how daily habits, diet, and targeted supplements, including omega-3s, vitamin D, magnesium, turmeric, and a comprehensive multivitamin†, can help support a healthy inflammatory response†.

Table of Contents

• Understanding Acute vs. Chronic Inflammation†
  • Acute Inflammation†
  • Chronic Conditions Linked to Ongoing Inflammation†
• Lifestyle and Environmental Triggers for Inflammation†
  • Foods That May Promote Inflammation†
  • Daily Habits to Help Reduce Chronic Inflammation†
• Omega-3 Isn’t Just for Heart Health†
  • Omega-3’s Role in Supporting a Healthy Inflammatory Response†
• Vitamin D for Joint Health and Inflammatory Support†
• Magnesium for Bone, Muscle, and Inflammatory Support†
• Turmeric (Curcumin) Antioxidant and Inflammatory Pathway Support†
  • Turmeric and Curcumin: Antioxidant and Inflammatory Pathway Support†
• CRP and Inflammation: What Research Shows†
  • How the Cooper Complete Multivitamin Was Studied for CRP†
• Supporting a Healthy Inflammatory Response with Lifestyle and Supplements†

Understanding Acute vs. Chronic Inflammation

Acute inflammation is the body’s immediate response to injury, infection, or illness, designed to protect and begin the healing process†. It usually lasts hours to days and resolves once the threat is gone†. Chronic, or systemic, inflammation can linger for months or years, even without a clear trigger†. Over time, this prolonged response may place added stress on the body’s tissues and systems†.

Acute Inflammation†

Acute inflammation is short-lived and may result from events such as:

• Stubbed toe or sprained ankle
• Food poisoning
• Sore throat from a cold
• Cut or scrape
• Allergic reaction to a bee sting

Chronic Conditions Linked to Ongoing Inflammation†

In an article published in Harvard Magazine, “Could Inflammation Be the Cause of Myriad Chronic Conditions?” the author points out that a growing body of evidence shows common chronic conditions could be triggered by low-grade, long-term inflammation. Those conditions include:

• Alzheimer’s disease
• Cancer
• Arthritis
• Asthma
• Gout
• Psoriasis
• Anemia
• Multiple sclerosis
• Diabetes
• Depression
• Parkinsonism

Lifestyle and Environmental Triggers for Inflammation†

Daily habits and environmental exposures can influence how much inflammation is present in the body†. Some factors are unavoidable, but others can be adjusted to help support a healthier inflammatory balance†. In an article in Decision Magazine (Danger: Chronic Inflammation), Dr. Cooper discusses a range of issues that contribute to inflammation:

• Unmanaged stress
• Pollution
• Tobacco use
• Processed foods
• Sugary snacks
• Refined grains
• Sugar
• Refined carbohydrates
• Inactivity
• Obesity
• Inadequate sleep

Foods That May Promote Inflammation†

There are also foods associated with inflammation in the body. Inflammatory foods include:

• Highly processed and refined foods, such as white bread, refined grains, sugary cereals, and packaged snacks
• Fried foods and fast foods
• Excessive red meat, including fatty cuts of beef, pork, or lamb, charred or processed BBQ meats
• Processed meats such as sausage, hot dogs, bacon, and sandwich deli meats (ham, salami, bologna)
• Sugar-laden foods and beverages, including soda and coffee drinks with syrups or whipped cream
• Shortening, margarine and lard
• Excessive alcohol

Daily Habits to Help Reduce Chronic Inflammation†

“We have an epidemic of inactivity and obesity in the United States today,” says Dr. Cooper, “which is fueling chronic inflammation in many Americans. Remember, what is good for the heart is also good for the brain.” The following healthy habits can effectively reduce chronic inflammation:

• Exercise 30 minutes a day, collectively or sustained, most days per week
• Sleep at least seven hours per night
• Socialize—avoid isolation by joining a club, synagogue, or support group or volunteering at your church or in the community
• Do not use tobacco of any type
• Drink alcohol in moderation, if at all
• Take the right supplements for you†

“The Cooper Center Longitudinal Study, the principal research asset of the Kenneth H. Cooper Institute at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, contains more data on vitamin D and omega-3 blood levels than probably any clinic in the U.S.,” Dr. Cooper says. “Omega-3 is one of the most effective supplements to reduce chronic inflammation and possibly vitamin D†. Exercising daily, maintaining a healthy weight and eating a plant-based diet are also essential to preventing chronic inflammation.”

Omega-3 Isn’t Just for Heart Health†

Omega-3 fatty acids are well-known for their cardiovascular benefits†, but research also shows they play a vital role in the body’s natural inflammatory resolution process†. Because the body cannot make omega-3 on its own, it must come from food or supplements†.

Omega-3’s Role in Supporting a Healthy Inflammatory Response†

What makes omega-3 supplements so mighty? Camron Nelson, MD, Cooper Clinic President and CEO and Preventive Medicine Physician, says, “It likely has something to do with how omega-3 fatty acids help support a healthy inflammatory response and overall cardiovascular health†.”

“Because the body cannot manufacture omega-3 fatty acids, it’s important to consume them through diet and supplements. In a study published in the American Heart Association’s Circulation Research, certain fish-oil formulas were associated with increased levels of specialized pro-resolving mediators, molecules involved in the body’s natural resolution phase of inflammation†.

However, Dr. Nelson strongly believes you can’t supplement your way out of a bad lifestyle. “I encourage my patients to first work on foundational lifestyle choices to decrease inflammation and risk for heart disease through diet, exercise and weight management, along with blood pressure and cholesterol control and only after that work do we add supplements to the mix.” Dr. Nelson recommends taking two Cooper Complete Advanced Omega-3 softgels a day to support heart health†, which provide 1,400 mg of omega-3, including 720 mg of EPA and 480 mg DHA. (Cooper Complete also has plant-based and liquid omega-3 supplements.)

Vitamin D for Joint Health and Inflammatory Support†

Vitamin D does more than help keep bones strong, it also plays a role in regulating the body’s immune and inflammatory responses†. Low vitamin D status has been linked in research to various concerns, ranging from mood and immune health to bone density†. Your physician or health care provider can help determine whether testing and supplementation are appropriate†.

Key Roles of Vitamin D†

Low vitamin D status has been associated with a variety of concerns in research, ranging from mood health to immune health, energy, and bone health†. Vitamin D helps: 

• Regulate inflammation†
• Maintain calcium levels in the bloodstream†
• Balance phosphorus levels, which keep bones and teeth hard†

Magnesium for Bone, Muscle, and Inflammatory Support†

Magnesium is an essential mineral involved in hundreds of enzymatic reactions, including those that influence the body’s inflammatory response†. It also works closely with vitamin D and calcium to maintain bone strength and density†.

Key Roles of Magnesium†

• Contributes to the structural development and maintenance of bone†
• Works with calcium and vitamin D to support bone strength and density†
• Helps maintain nerve and muscle function†
• Supports muscle relaxation, which may promote calm before bedtime†
• Plays a role in the production of melatonin, a hormone involved in the sleep-wake cycles†
• Supports cardiovascular health†
• Supports already-healthy blood-sugar levels†
• Supports joint cartilage†

Turmeric (Curcumin) Antioxidant and Inflammatory Pathway Support†

Turmeric, a bright yellow spice used in cooking and traditional medicine, contains curcumin, a natural compound with antioxidant and inflammation-modulating properties†. Adding turmeric or curcumin supplements to a healthy lifestyle may help support overall wellness†.

Turmeric and Curcumin: Antioxidant and Inflammatory Pathway Support†

For centuries, turmeric has been used in different cultures as a natural remedy for various ailments†. Through science, we’ve discovered turmeric contains curcumin, an antioxidant that fights unstable atoms, free radicals, that cause damage in the body†. Scavenging free radicals reduces the body’s stress levels†. Curcumin also inhibits the release of chemicals in the body that trigger the process of inflammation†.

Excessive inflammation in the joints is the main cause of arthritis pain. Recent reports show that curcumin can help reduce joint inflammation and pain in the body and joints†.

“Turmeric also works to suppress the protein complex NF-KB, which causes inflammation at a molecular level,” says Riva Rahl, MD, Cooper Clinic Platinum Physician. “NF-KB has been attributed to many chronic diseases such as heart disease and cancer.”

In addition to its role in fighting inflammation†, research shows turmeric may also support:

• Joint comfort and mobility†
• Endothelial function and circulatory health†
• Cognitive health and mood balance†

CRP and Inflammation: What Research Shows

How the Cooper Complete Multivitamin Was Studied for CRP†

C-reactive protein (CRP) is a protein produced by the liver and found in the blood. High CRP levels can indicate systemic inflammation, which can result due to injury, infection, or fever. Elevated CRP levels have also been linked in research to increased cardiovascular and metabolic risk, and they may influence how certain arthritis medications work.

In a study conducted by researchers at Kenneth H. Cooper Institute at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, adults who took Cooper Complete Original Iron Free daily for six months experienced a mean decrease in CRP compared with baseline†. The multivitamin contained 24 ingredients, and researchers specifically measured the effects of vitamins C, E, B6, B12, beta carotene and folate and determined:

• A 32% reduction in average CRP levels compared with baseline†
• A drop in the percentage of participants with high-risk CRP levels (>3.0 mg/L) from 30% to 14%†
• An average change in CRP of 0.70 mg/L over six months†
• The most significant change occurred in participants who started with elevated CRP levels†

These findings suggest that daily supplementation with Cooper Complete Original Iron Free was associated with lower CRP levels in this study†. Individual results may vary.

Supporting a Healthy Inflammatory Response with Lifestyle and Supplements†

Inflammation is a natural part of the body’s defense system, but when it becomes chronic, it can place extra stress on overall health†. Lifestyle habits, environmental exposures, and nutrition choices all influence the body’s inflammatory balance. By focusing on a nutrient-rich diet, regular physical activity, quality sleep, and targeted supplementation†, you can help support your body’s natural ability to maintain a healthy inflammatory response†. Work with your physician or health care provider to determine which supplements, such as omega-3s, vitamin D, magnesium, turmeric, or a comprehensive multivitamin†, fit your individual needs. With the right approach, you can take proactive steps to support joint comfort, heart and brain health, and overall well-being†.

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About the Author: Jill Turner is the President of Cooper Complete® Nutritional Supplements, where she oversees product development and customer experience. She enjoys writing about vitamins, supplements, and preventive health to help consumers make informed, science-backed decisions.

This article was developed in collaboration with Cooper Clinic physicians Dr. Kenneth Cooper, Dr. Riva Rahl, and Dr. Camron Nelson.

Cooper Complete August 8, 2025