Abstract: Disclosed are methods of lowering plasma CRP levels, reducing systemic inflammation, and inhibiting proinflammatory cytokine induced CRP production by administering an effective amount of a substituted dialkyl ether, substituted alkyl, substituted aryl-alkyl, substituted dialkyl thioether, substituted dialkyl ketone, substituted-alkyl, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of the substituted dialkyl ether, substituted alkyl, substituted aryl-alkyl, substituted dialkyl thioether, substituted dialkyl ketone, or substituted-alkyl or a pharmaceutical composition comprising a substituted dialkyl ether, substituted alkyl, substituted aryl-alkyl, substituted dialkyl thioether, substituted dialkyl ketone, substituted-alkyl.