Progesterone and Inflammation

Progesterone has potent anti-inflammatory properties that can help treat and prevent a wide array of inflammatory conditions. Numerous clinical trials suggest that progesterone fights inflammation through the following important mechanisms:
1. It suppresses NF-κB and MAPK activation, which in turn inhibits the production of proinflammatory markers like COX-2, IL-6, iNOS, and TNF-α. [26-31]
2. It enhances the synthesis of brain steroids. [32]
3. It inhibits vascular permeability and the formation of granulation tissue in the early phase of the inflammation. [33]
4. It reduces cellular inflammatory response. [34]