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COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- The University of South Carolina has been given a $10 million grant to study how dietary supplements can be used to treat inflammation.

The award from the National Institutes of Health comes after the group gave the university $6 million that led to research that showed some dietary supplements can reduce inflammation.

Researchers say inflammation is essential to help the body recover from infections and injuries, but lingering, low-grade inflammation can also lead to the development of cancers and allergies as well as strokes and heart attacks.

Officials say the university's new Center for Dietary Supplements and Inflammation could revolutionize the way chronic inflammation is treated and find new techniques to fight a number of diseases.