Interleukin-6 (IL-6)

Specialist

also —

What it isIL-6 is a pleiotropic cytokine released by immune cells, fat cells, and contracting muscle. It drives the liver's CRP response and shapes both acute and chronic inflammation.

DoesTriggers acute-phase responses, regulates immune cell development, and acts as a long-distance signal in inflammation.

GoodLow circulating IL-6 signals quiescent chronic inflammation and predicts healthy aging.

BadChronically elevated IL-6 is a hallmark of "inflammaging" — the slow-burn inflammation of aging — and predicts cardiovascular events, frailty, dementia, and cancer.

Standard

<2 pg/mL.

Optimal

0–0.7 pg/mL (lower is good)

Modifiers

Spikes acutely with exercise (transient and beneficial), rises with visceral fat, stress, sleep deprivation, smoking.

How to optimize

Lifestyle: Resistance training and Zone 2 cardio reduce chronic IL-6; sleep 7–9 hours; stress management; quit smoking.
Diet: Mediterranean pattern; cut ultra-processed food, refined carbs, seed oils; intermittent fasting may help.
Supplements: Omega-3 EPA+DHA (2–4g/day), curcumin (500mg 2×/day), resveratrol, vitamin D3, taurine (3g/day).
Peptides: Thymosin alpha-1, BPC-157.
Drugs: Tocilizumab and other IL-6 blockers used in autoimmune disease; statins lower IL-6 modestly; metformin and GLP-1 agonists help.

within Inflammation