Accumulation of advanced glycation end products in skin and increased vascular ageing in the general population: the Malmö Offspring Study

Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are potentially toxic proteins that become glycated after contact with sugars which are known risk marker in diabetic vascular disease, and associated with the degree of diabetes complications, renal failure, and atherosclerosis. A group led by Amra from Lund university assessed 2518 young adults. They showed a strong positive association between AGEs found in skin and vascular biomarkers (augmentation index and pulse wave velocity) independent of cardiometabolic risk factors. These results advocate that reducing dietary intake of AGEs could reduce aortic stiffness.