Antiaging Checkup: Evaluation of Glycation Stress

Glycation in the body generally refers to the reaction where reducing sugars in the blood, such as glucose (blood sugar) and fructose (fruit sugar), cause a non-enzymatic chemical reaction with proteins, resulting in glycated proteins. These proteins then go through glycation intermediates, mainly carbonyl compounds, to eventually become advanced glycation end products (AGEs). Recent studies have shown that AGEs are known to exacerbate factors such as diabetic complications, arteriosclerosis, osteoporosis, and dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease [1]. Glycation stress is a concept that comprehensively captures the stress on the body caused by reducing sugars and aldehyde loads and the subsequent reactions.