The present invention relates to a method for predicting the risk of acquiring an age-related low-grade inflammation for a subject, said method comprising a) providing a biological sample from a subject, b) determining in said sample the level of at least one biomarker selected from the group consisting of a compound of molecular weight between 859-863 g/mol and which is an alkylacylphosphatidylcholine, a compound of molecular weight between 861-86 g/mol and which is a diacylphosphatidylcholine, a compound of molecular weight between 791-794 g/mol and which is an alkylacylphosphatidylcholine, a compound of molecular weight between 522-525 g/mol and which is a monoacylphosphatidylcholine, octadecanoylcarnitine (C18), and tryptophan, c) comparing the level of the at least one biomarker to a reference level, and d) determining whether said subject is likely to be at risk of acquiring an age-related low-grade inflammation, when the level of biomarker(s) deviate significantly from the respective reference level.