Can Too Much Sugar Make You AGE Faster?

By VRP Staff

You may not realize it, but there’s a proverbial double edged sword hiding in seemingly harmless foods that you encounter every day—bread, salad dressing, soda pop, fruit juice, mustard, ketchup and tomato sauce, to name a few. That’s right: All of these everyday consumables could be responsible for contributing to the slow and steady destruction of your health, thanks to the generous addition of just one potentially dangerous ingredient.

That ingredient is sugar… and chances are good that it’s sabotaging your health at this very moment.

How? When your body is exposed to excess glucose, it triggers a process called glycation, in which sugars attach themselves to proteins and lipids—forming cross linkages that damages these molecules, making cell membranes become less elastic and causing some cells to aggregate or form clumps. The final result of the glycation process is the formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs)—compounds that accumulate in your body over time, triggering chronic inflammation and wreaking havoc on just about every tissue in your body.^1-3

Case in point: your heart. Research shows that chronic high blood sugar levels are a significant independent predictor of heart attacks in humans—while animal studies have revealed that a high-sugar diet not only increases AGEs, but contributes to narrowing blood vessels and increasing the formation of vascular lesions, too.^4-5 AGEs also trigger abnormal platelet clumping (a major heart disease risk factor)—and research shows that they’re linked to increased blood pressure and arterial stiffness, especially among insulin-resistant and type-2 diabetic patients.^6-7

Unfortunately, the damage isn’t confined to your cardiovascular system. Insulin resistance and poor blood sugar control both have strong ties to depression and cognitive decline—while AGEs in particular are also linked to the accumulation of beta-amyloid peptide, the damaging protein implicated in Alzheimer’s disease.^8-11 Studies have even implicated AGEs in conditions ranging from rheumatoid arthritis to inflammatory bowel disorders, such as IBS and ulcerative colitis.¹²

So how can you stop the progression of AGE-related destruction in a world where sugar is practically inescapable? Believe it or not, defending yourself against AGEs is easier than you might think—provided you have the help of just a few carefully chosen botanicals.

The first step in controlling the damage produced by AGEs is to maintain healthy blood sugar. For better glucose control, look to natural compounds like bitter melon and goat’s rue (both of which have been shown to support healthy blood sugar levels), as well as powerful antioxidants like vitamin C, vitamin E and n-acetyl-cysteine.^13-18 Research shows that cinnamon can also improve insulin sensitivity—along with the mineral vanadium and the flavonoid quercetin.^19-21

The second step is to stop the formation of AGEs. The antioxidant carnosine is a critical ally in this goal, as studies show it can inhibit the glycating metabolites that trigger AGE formation.^22-24 Similarly, (R)-lipoic acid effectively combats AGE accumulation (especially in combination with the B vitamin benfotiamine), while reducing levels of oxidative stress.^25-28 Finally, the botanicals guava and yerba mate have both been shown to block AGE formation in a dose-dependent manner.^29-30

You’ll find all of these effective blood-sugar-supporting and AGE-fighting ingredients in just two daily formulas—GluControl™ and AGEBlock®—available now from Vitamin Research Products. 

References:

1. Forbes JM, Soldatos G, Thomas MC. Below the radar: advanced glycation end products that detour “around the side”. Is HbA1c not an accurate enough predictor of long term progression and glycaemic control in diabetes? Clin Biochem Rev. 2005 Nov;26(4):123-34.

2. Vlassara H, Uribarri J, Ferrucci L, Cai W, Torreggiani M, Post JB, Zheng F, Striker GE. Identifying advanced glycation end products as a major source of oxidants in aging: implications for the management and/or prevention of reduced renal function in elderly persons. Semin Nephrol. 2009 Nov;29(6):594-603.

3. Yao D, Brownlee M. Hyperglycemia-induced reactive oxygen species increase expression of the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) and RAGE ligands. Diabetes. 2010 Jan;59(1):249-55.

4. van der Horst IC, Nijsten MW, Vogelzang M, Zijlstra F. Persistent hyperglycemia is an independent predictor of outcome in acute myocardial infarction. Cardiovasc Diabetol. 2007 Feb 6;6:2.

5. Yamada S, Ohkubo C. The influence of frequent and excessive intake of glucose on microvascular aging in healthy mice. Microcirculation. 1999 Mar;6(1):55-62.

6. Gawlowski T, Stratmann B, Ruetter R, Buenting CE, Menart B, Weiss J, Vlassara H, Koschinsky T, Tschoepe D. Advanced glycation end products strongly activate platelets. Eur J Nutr. 2009 Dec;48(8):475-81.

7. Engelen L, Ferreira I, Gaens KH, Henry RM, Dekker JM, Nijpels G, Heine RJ, ‘t Hart LM, van Greevenbroek MM, van der Kallen CJ, Blaak EE, Feskens EJ, Ten Cate H, Stehouwer CD, Schalkwijk CG. The association between the -374T/A polymorphism of the receptor for advanced glycation endproducts gene and blood pressure and arterial stiffness is modified by glucose metabolism status: the Hoorn and CoDAM studies. J Hypertens. 2010 Feb;28(2):285-93.

8. Pearson S, Schmidt M, Patton G, Dwyer T, Blizzard L, Otahal P, A V. Depression and Insulin Resistance: Cross-Sectional Associations In Young Adults. Diabetes Care. 2010 Feb 25. Published Online Ahead of Print.

9. Iype T, Shaji SK, Balakrishnan A, Charles D, Varghese AA, Antony TP. Cognition in type 2 diabetes: Association with vascular risk factors, complications of diabetes and depression. Ann Indian Acad Neurol. 2009 Jan;12(1):25-7.

10. Wang SH, Sun ZL, Guo YJ, Yuan Y, Yang BQ. Diabetes impairs hippocampal function via advanced glycation end product mediated new neuron generation in animals with diabetes-related depression. Toxicol Sci. 2009 Sep;111(1):72-9.

11. Silverberg GD, Miller MC, Messier AA, Majmudar S, Machan JT, Donahue JE, Stopa EG, Johanson CE. Amyloid deposition and influx transporter expression at the blood-brain barrier increase in normal aging. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol. 2010 Jan;69(1):98-108.

12. Kato S, Itoh K, Ochiai M, Iwai A, Park Y, Hata S, Takeuchi K, Ito M, Imaki J, Miura S, Yakabi K, Kobayashi M. Increased pentosidine, an advanced glycation end-product, in urine and tissue reflects disease activity in inflammatory bowel diseases. J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2008 Dec;23 Suppl 2:S140-5.

13. Basch E, Gabardi S, Ulbricht C. Bitter melon (Momordica charantia): a review of efficacy and safety. Am J Health Syst Pharm. 2003 Feb 15;60(4):356-9.

14. Shih CC, Lin CH, Lin WL, Wu JB. Momordica charantia extract on insulin resistance and the skeletal muscle GLUT4 protein in fructose-fed rats. J Ethnopharmacol. 2009 May 4;123(1):82-90.

15. Yin J, Zhang H, Ye J. Traditional chinese medicine in treatment of metabolic syndrome. Endocr Metab Immune Disord Drug Targets. 2008 Jun;8(2):99-111.

16. Petricic J, Kalodera Z. Galegin in the goats rue herb: its toxicity, antidiabetic activity and content determination. Acta Pharm Jugosl. 1982;32(3):219-23.

17. Muller H, Reinwein H. Pharmacology of galegin. Arch Expll Path Pharm. 1927;125:212-28.

18. Neri S, Signorelli SS, Torrisi B, Pulvirenti D, Mauceri B, Abate G, Ignaccolo L, Bordonaro F, Cilio D, Calvagno S, Leotta C. Effects of antioxidant supplementation on postprandial oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction: a single-blind, 15-day clinical trial in patients with untreated type 2 diabetes, subjects with impaired glucose tolerance, and healthy controls. Clin Ther. 2005 Nov;27(11):1764-73.

19. Solomon TP, Blannin AK. Changes in glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity following 2 weeks of daily cinnamon ingestion in healthy humans. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2009 Jan 22. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2009 Jan 22. Published Online Ahead of Print.

20. Cusi K, Cukier S, DeFronzo RA, Torres M, Puchulu FM, Redondo JC. Vanadyl sulfate improves hepatic and muscle insulin sensitivity in type 2 diabetes. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2001 Mar;86(3):1410-7.

21. Rivera L, Morón R, Sánchez M, Zarzuelo A, Galisteo M. Quercetin Ameliorates Metabolic Syndrome and Improves the Inflammatory Status in Obese Zucker Rats. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2008 Jun 12. Published Online Ahead of Print.

22. Hipkiss AR. Would carnosine or a carnivorous diet help suppress aging and associated pathologies? Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2006 May;1067:369-74.

23. Reddy VP, Garrett MR, Perry G, et al. Carnosine: a versatile antioxidant and antiglycating agent. Sci Aging Knowledge Environ. 2005 May 4;2005(18):pe12.

24. Hipkiss AR, Chana H. Carnosine protects proteins against methylglyoxal-mediated modifications. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1998 Jul 9;248(1):28-32.

25. Loske C, Neumann A, Cunningham AM, et al. Cytotoxicity of advanced glycation endproducts is mediated by oxidative stress. J Neural Transm. 1998;105(8-9):1005-15.

26. Thirunavukkarasu V, Anitha Nandhini AT, Anuradha CV. Lipoic acid improves glucose utilisation and prevents protein glycation and AGE formation. Pharmazie. 2005 Oct;60(10):772-5.

27. Kunt T, Forst T, Wilhelm A, et al. Alpha-lipoic acid reduces expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 and endothelial adhesion of human monocytes after stimulation with advanced glycation end products. Clin Sci (Lond). 1999 Jan;96(1):75-82.

28. Du X, Edelstein D, Brownlee M. Oral benfotiamine plus alpha-lipoic acid normalises complication-causing pathways in type 1 diabetes. Diabetologia. 2008 Oct;51(10):1930-2.

29. Hsieh CL, Yang MH, Chyau CC, et al. Kinetic analysis on the sensitivity of glucose- or glyoxal-induced LDL glycation to the inhibitory effect of Psidium guajava extract in a physiomimic system. Biosystems. 2007 Mar;88(1-2):92-100.

30. Lunceford N, Gugliucci A. Ilex paraguariensis extracts inhibit AGE formation more efficiently than green tea. Fitoterapia. 2005 Jul;76(5):419-27.