The Effects of Advanced Glycation End Products on Diabetes Complications: A Review

Abstract

Advanced glycation end products (AGE) are a heterogeneous group of compounds that are physiologically synthesized in the body. Apart from this, it can be taken into the body as exogenous through nutrition and smoking. Increased levels of AGEs in the body are associated with the development of many pathologies, especially diabetes. Although many ways are suggested for the mechanism of action of AGEs on the pathophysiology of diabetes, basically two mechanisms, direct and indirect, are mentioned. In the direct mechanism, increased levels of AGEs in plasma can cause cell damage and have an effect on diabetes and its complications. Indirectly, with the increase in plasma glucose level in diabetic condition, various structural proteins glycated lose their function and free radical production is induced. As the evidence on the role of AGEs in the pathogenesis of diabetes increases, the importance of the amount of AGE taken with foods that are sources of exogenous AGEs become apparent. At this point, it is thought that restricting dietary AGE intake will be an important strategy. In this review study, it was aimed to evaluate the effects of advanced glycation end products on diabetes complications in the light of current literature.