Ray Peat on Lipofuscin

January 29, 2026

The Role of Lipofuscin in Plaque Inflammation and Calcification

“The aging pigment ceroid or lipofuscin, which largely originates from PUFA and is associated with macrophage foam cells in the plaque, accumulates iron (Lee, et al., 1998) and generates local hypoxia through catalysis of oxidation, leading to lactic acid formation and contributing to an inflammatory process. The products of lipid peroxidation, such as azelaic acid (Riad, et al., 2018), together with lactate, lead to tissue calcification.”

September 2018 - Ray Peats Newsletter

Lipofuscin Formation from Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids

“The aging pigment lipofuscin is formed by oxidation of polyunsaturated lipids. The polyunsaturated fatty acids that accumulate with age have been known for about 80 years as the main source of this material. These fatty acids inhibit cholesterol synthesis.”

November 2018 - Ray Peats Newsletter

Calcium and Iron Deposits in Damaged Tissues: A Mystery

“At the beginning of the century, it was observed that calcium and iron tend to be deposited together in damaged tissues, but the exact reason for this association remains unknown to this day. I believe the role of iron in the aging pigment lipofuscin is an important part of the mechanism.”

June 1994 - Ray Peats Newsletter

Antagonism Between Estrogen and Vitamin E

“Around the time these factors were studied in relation to aging pigment formation, the Shutes investigated the antagonism between estrogen and vitamin E. Essentially, this antagonism consists of vitamin E conserving oxygen and estrogen wasting oxygen.”

June 1994 - Ray Peats Newsletter

Biochemical Parallels Between Aging and Estrogen Dominance

“There are many biochemical similarities between aging and the state of estrogen dominance, and no recognizable biochemical differences can be identified between these states—except their history. For example, in both states, oxygen tension is relatively low, causing unsaturated lipids to be rapidly converted by lipid peroxidation into aging pigment or lipofuscin.”

January 1991 - Ray Peats Newsletter

Vitamin E Deficiency and Aging Pigment Formation

“In vitamin E deficiency, unsaturated oils are oxidized in a way that produces aging pigment, also called ceroid pigment or lipofuscin. This pigment consumes both oxygen and fuel but produces no usable energy.”