Inflammation — how we score

The Inflammation category is how NordicScan's method flags ingredient signals associated with inflammatory response — systemic markers in the food context, and local skin reaction in the cosmetic context. It is one of the evidence categories our published method uses for a product's 0–100 NordicScan Score — food and cosmetic products alike, each assessed on the categories that apply to its route. This page explains what the category looks at, the sources behind it, and what the method does and does not claim.

A flag in this category means an ingredient our method associates with an inflammatory signal is present — for your research. Every flag shows its true evidence tier — causation, correlation, authority-listed, or reported by users — so you can see how strong the link is. It is not a diagnosis, not a prediction of your body's response, and not medical advice.

What this category looks at

• Food (ingestion). Ingredient signals associated with elevated inflammatory markers — for example CRP, IL‑6, and TNF‑α — in published human studies. Industrial trans fat is a representative flag: associated with elevated inflammatory markers in observational studies. Correlation, not causation — and the flag says so.
• Cosmetic (skin contact). Local skin‑reaction signals — stinging, burning, and reaction amplification on the same area of skin. SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate) is a representative flag: a local skin‑reaction signal where formulation, contact time, and skin barrier affect how likely a reaction is. Authority‑listed.

Food and cosmetic evidence never cross‑copy: an ingestion marker study says nothing about the same ingredient on skin, and vice versa. Each context is assessed on its own evidence.

We follow the marker evidence, not the trend

This category is where ingredient trends meet published data, and the method follows the data both ways. We don't flag a seed oil from its name alone: a 2017 meta‑analysis of randomized human trials did not detect a statistically significant average increase in inflammatory markers (CRP, IL‑6, TNF‑α) with higher linoleic‑acid intake, at the levels studied. When the markers move, we flag it; when the trials did not detect movement, we say that instead.

The words we use

How we read inflammation: we match named ingredient signals to published evidence, and each flag shows its evidence tier — causation, correlation, authority‑listed, or reported by users — so you can see how strong the link is. Per the evidence tiers:

• A human observational finding is a correlation — "associated with elevated inflammatory markers (CRP, IL‑6) in observational studies. Correlation, not causation. Tap to read."
• An authority listing is an authority / regulatory signal, attributed to the named body and chip‑labeled "Authority‑listed."
• A user‑reported pattern is labeled reported by users — served at that strength, never dressed up as a study.

Weak evidence is served and labeled, never omitted and never overstated: a correlation is stated as a correlation, and suppressing a true weak signal would be as misleading as inventing a strong one.

What the score does — and does not — claim

• It does flag named ingredient signals matched to published inflammatory‑marker evidence (food) and local skin‑reaction evidence (cosmetic), each with its receipt and tier, so you can read the source yourself.
• It does not diagnose or predict inflammation in your body, assess any inflammatory condition, or make a medical claim. Concern signals under our published method, for general research. Not a safety verdict.
• Overlap with other categories is expected and disclosed — an ingredient can carry both an inflammation signal and, for example, a skin or metabolic signal, each on its own evidence.

Related method pages

• How we score — the full method
• Allergens & sensitivities · Digestive · Neurological & behavioural · Metabolic · Endocrine‑active · Carcinogenicity signals · Cardiovascular · Skin (dermal) · Nutrition & positives · Acne risk

Disclaimer

Nordic Scan provides ingredient information and a 0–100 NordicScan Score under our published method, for general consumer research. It is not medical advice and not a medical device, and does not diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease, or determine the safety of any product. Decide for yourself.

NordicScan is operated by The Fred Group, Inc. (d/b/a NordicScan). See how we score for the full method.