A targeted biochemical and nutritional strategy aimed at inhibiting the non-enzymatic reaction between reducing sugars, such as glucose, and proteins or lipids, a process that leads to the formation of harmful Advanced Glycation End products (AGEs). This preventative approach is clinically significant because AGE accumulation compromises the structural integrity and function of tissues, contributing to age-related pathology, including cardiovascular and dermal aging. Effective glycation prevention involves dietary, pharmacological, and supplement interventions.
Origin
The concept originates from diabetology and aging research, where the pathological role of chronic hyperglycemia and its subsequent chemical reactions with long-lived proteins, such as collagen, was first established. The term highlights the need to actively intervene against the process of glycation, which is derived from the Greek glykys, meaning “sweet.” Understanding this mechanism provided a new target for anti-aging and metabolic health strategies.
Mechanism
The mechanism of prevention can be multi-faceted, involving the direct reduction of systemic sugar load through dietary carbohydrate restriction, which limits the available substrate for the reaction. Certain compounds, known as anti-glycation agents, can chemically sequester the reactive carbonyl groups of sugars or directly inhibit the cross-linking reactions that form AGEs. By blocking these chemical steps, the structural integrity of proteins and the function of the extracellular matrix are preserved, mitigating long-term cellular damage.
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