Glycation is a term describing the combination of sugars with other molecules throughout your body. These are usually proteins of various types. Glycation is a reaction that does not involve intermediary enzymes. It’s more like two globs bumping into each other and sticking together in a clump that is difficult to get rid of.
These micro-clumps are called Amadori products. (For what it’s worth.)
These products undergo further modifications and eventually wind up as advanced glycation end products or AGEs. These get together, and as they accumulate, their outward signs are age spots and stiff wrinkly skin.
These are two signs of aging that are obvious.
If you’re curious and want more in-depth information on the formation of AGEs, here’s a technical paper.
Maillard Reaction.
The formation of AGEs over time is inevitable and a part of our biochemical milieu. We do, however, have a measure of control over it that I will get to later. Most of the accumulation of AGEs is done internally and unconsciously.
There are also external sources of AGEs in the form of food. Primarily “browned” foods like steak, bread, and fried foods, really anything that is browned as opposed to just cooked.
The browning of foods is a result of the Maillard reaction. This is a complex process that, in simple terms, causes foods to turn brown. Foods like fried/grilled meats, baked bread, and crinkly french fries are brown as a result of AGE production via the Maillard reaction.
When we eat these foods, AGEs go into our system, and some of them stick. Since AGEs are not digestible, most of them leave via defecation. However, enough of them stick around and will eventually build up, adding to our AGE load.
Glycation and AGEs
OK. I’ll admit that this burger looks fantastic, and I’d bet it tastes great too. But it’s loaded with AGEs.
Fried meat, fried onions, and browned bun are all teaming with AGEs. I’ll bet a plate of fries sits right next to them – even more AGEs.
Add a couple of sugar-loaded colas to this, and you have an atomic cocktail of AGEs ready to explode inside your digestive tract.
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AGEs and type II diabetes – clarification:
Now, let me be clear. AGEs don’t cause type II diabetes. They do, however, assist in its diagnosis. Glycated sugar sticks to hemoglobin and won’t let go. If you have high blood sugar, more hemoglobin will get glycated.
So your blood sugar will be assessed indirectly by the level of glycated hemoglobin in a blood sample. This is a standard test resulting in the A1c number. Unlike your glucose number, your A1c is diagnostic, and it it’s too high, you are considered diabetic.
Yes, your doctor will do further testing, but the A1c is pretty definitive on its own. OK, I just wanted to clarify that because, for many people, A1c is confusing and often presented as a number or score without further explanation.
If you’re dealing with this issue now, here’s further information about A1c and diabetic blood testing.
So now, let’s get back and explore more about AGEs.
First, we know where they come from and that they’re hard to eliminate. We also know that they cause age spots and promote skin wrinkling. There’s more to it, though, and it’s none of it’s good.
Heart and arteries.
Like your skin, AGEs can stick in and to your arteries and heart muscles, making them stiff and hard. Hardening of the arteries is a common issue, and AGEs play a part. Hard arteries lead to high blood pressure and insufficient or erratic blood delivery.
Heart tissue and valve pliability are also affected. Stiff heart muscles equate to lower ejection fractions (less blood pumped per squeeze) and increased heart rates to make up the difference.
Stiff valves can leak and not open fully. Both of these are problems that can be dangerous and even fatal. Aortic stenosis is also a result of the accumulation of AGEs.
Interstitial spaces.
Interstitial spaces have negative pressures and help with the movement of lymph and nutrient-laden fluids. These spaces can fill up with AGEs and inhibit the free flow of fluids and materials carried or pushed by interstitial fluids.
This causes problems with one’s immune system because interstitial space is where many immune system transactions take place.
Some researchers consider interstitial space as an organ that functions independently of other organs. It is complex and has many features that might qualify it for organ status. It is not just empty space; filling it up with AGEs is dangerous and contributes to the overall stiffness we experience and attribute to “old age.”
Other issues:
Of course, AGEs go everywhere blood goes, and their accumulation is always detrimental to physiological function. Taking up space and making everything stiffer is the result of a lifetime of AGEs accumulation
AGEs might even be at the base of Alzheimer’s Disease and ALS, both fatal diseases.
Indeed, glycated end products might be the most definitive aspect of aging and overall decrepitude and decline.
AGEs are everywhere, but we are not at their mercy.
We’re probably stuck with the AGEs we already have, but we can reduce the new ones coming in.
Like many things, it comes down to our lifestyles.
Things we can do now to slow AGEs accumulation.
The good news is that we know where these glycated end products come from, so we can limit them. So regardless of your age and current condition:
- Stop eating sweets and drinking sugary drinks. Just stop. They do not add anything positive to your nutritional status and make you fat on top of everything else. Nothing good here.
- Limit sweet fruits to one serving per day. Sweet fruits have fructose in them, and that’s why they taste sweet. Some fruits like tomatoes and avocados have very little (if any) fructose. Here is a list of low-fructose fruits.
- Develop an exercise program to stimulate your blood flow and burn off blood sugar. Glucose is what we’re talking about when we say blood sugar. Glucose is important to our body as a ready-to-use fuel. Although it’s not quite that simple, your liver and insulin regulate glucose levels in your blood. Short of insulin injection, strenuous exercise is the quickest way to reduce glucose levels in your bloodstream. One of the least appreciated functions of exercise is glucose regulation.
- Stop eating “browned” foods like grilled meats and hard-crusted baked goods. As I explained above, these are full of AGEs via the Maillard reaction.
- Stop eating junk food like burgers, fries, and sodas. These things are loaded with AGEs and sugar and have low nutritional value (especially sodas).
- Limit high glycemic foods.
Finally.
Since my blog is about living long enough to take advantage of anti-aging and life-extending technology, let me say that there is a lot of research on breaking up AGEs and dissolving them.
Most of the efforts are in the cosmetic area because of the ugly effects of AGEs on the skin. Here is an encouraging article mostly on the cosmetic side. There is also serious research on the cardiac level and on the general overall level as well.
Unfortunately, AGEs affect us throughout our entire body, which is one of the most important challenges of the anti-aging movement. Here is an easy-to-read article with a couple of options you might consider.
OMY1
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