We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Biology

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What is Glycation?

Karyn Maier
By
Updated: May 21, 2024
Views: 72,760
Share

Glycation is a reaction that takes place when simple sugar molecules, such as fructose or glucose, become attached to proteins or lipid fats without the moderation of an enzyme. This results in the formation of rogue molecules known as advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs). This process, also known as non-enzymatic glycosylation, is normally governed by enzymatic activity, which is necessary to regulate the metabolic functioning of molecules. The lack of this catalyst deters the normal glycosylation of sugars to produced needed energy, however, and since it disrupts normal metabolic pathways and advances the circulation of AGEs, it can promote certain health risks.

Exogenous glycations, one form that occurs outside the body, are responsible for allowing foods to brown during cooking. This type is dubbed the Maillard reaction, in honor of the early 20th century French chemist who first observed how sugars react with fats or proteins while exposed to high temperatures. While crisp French fries and grilled meats may be tasty, the reaction that produces them also creates 2-propenamide, a suspected carcinogen that comes with the meal. In addition, exogenous AGEs are sometimes added to certain foods to enhance color and flavor, including baked goods, dark colas, and coffee.

Endogenous glycation, which occurs in the body, is associated with increased oxidative damage. AGEs and their by-products are linked to many age-related diseases, including Alzheimer’s. This process is of particular concern for diabetics, who already suffer from the effects of poor glucose control. In fact, elevated levels of AGEs contribute to a number of diabetes-related complications, including neuropathy, retinal disease, and kidney failure.

Elevated levels of AGEs also deplete nitric oxide levels, which promotes vascular damage and an increased risk for heart disease. As sugar molecules bind to high-density lipoprotein molecules — the “good” cholesterol — the latter are blocked from binding to receptor sites in the liver. The end result is that the liver is duped into thinking there’s a shortage of cholesterol and keeps manufacturing more to deposit into the bloodstream.

AGEs seem to age the human body faster than nature intended. In addition to limiting consumption of baked goods, fried foods, and other high content AGE-containing foods, studies have shown that certain nutrients may serve as inhibitors of this process. For instance, calcium pyruvate and carnosine not only appear to help prevent the reaction, but also stimulate proteolysis, or the degradation of glycated proteins. Certain plant extracts have also been studied for their potential to prevent glycation, at least in vitro. Among those that have shown promising results are cinnamon, black pepper, ginger, cumin, and green tea.

Share
All The Science is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Karyn Maier
By Karyn Maier
Contributing articles to All The Science is just one of Karyn Maier's many professional pursuits. Based in New York's Catskill Mountain region, Karyn is also a magazine writer, columnist, and author of four books. She specializes in topics related to green living and botanical medicine, drawing from her extensive knowledge to create informative and engaging content for readers.
Discussion Comments
By anon1002756 — On Feb 09, 2020

Just minimize carbohydrates, preferably replacing them with mono and saturated fats, and certainly avoiding industrially processed fats.

By anon349520 — On Sep 26, 2013

Next week, meat doused in sugar brine and grilled will cure Alzheimer's.

By anon314286 — On Jan 17, 2013

In response to the comments about the sugars: processed sugars are much different than naturally occurring sugars. For instance, the pectin in fruit binds with the fructose to keep it from causing some of its negative effects. Once example I can think of is the formation of methanol in the body. Processed fructose and fruit juices produce methanol in the body, while fruit with the naturally occurring pectin in it, does not allow this reaction. It may be a similar reason why eating raw fruit does not cause glycation like fructose, high fructose corn sugar and other processed sugars. Don't eat too much fruit, but don't eliminate it from your diet.

By anon282089 — On Jul 27, 2012

Is it possible to break this down into plain English?

By anon67190 — On Feb 23, 2010

As opposed to eating only raw foods or foods processed in a dehydrator at temps below 115 fahrenheit --see post number 6, could one not cook foods without sugars? Would that prevent exogenous glycation?

By anon67188 — On Feb 23, 2010

It is my understanding that:

Exogenous glycation occurs when you cook sugars with fats/proteins resulting in a maillard reaction that may lead to foods containing carcinogens (2-propenade).

My question: Could you avoid exogenous glycation by avoiding the use of sugars when cooking?

I do not fully understand what occurs in endogenous glycation. I assume sugars still bind haphazardly to proteins/fats within the body leading to rogue proteins (AGEs). Glycation occurs due to non-enzymatic glycosylation, but why? Are we lacking enzymes when this happens? Why? Does glycation occur because we mix food types? Should we consider not eating sugars at the same time as proteins of fats?

Are there certain sugars that are more likely to cause glycation (e.g. fructose?) if so why? - can any kind expert explain the process to me? All replies much appreciated.

By anon67177 — On Feb 23, 2010

Is glycation more of a risk with glucose,fructose or lactose? Or is there no difference? Am I right in thinking that there is up to ten times more risk of glycation occurring (i.e. sugar molecules binding haphazardly to protein molecules and ? denaturing them) with fructose than with glucose or lactose? Can any one explain why/why not? Replies much appreciated.

By anon65826 — On Feb 16, 2010

I wouldn't cut the fruit out of your diet.

I would consider transitioning to a "raw" die -- no cooking in this diet and most of the time it winds up being a vegan diet, unless you choose to consume raw dairy products.

A dehydrator becomes your new "oven." Food/meal preparations (including cookies, cracker among other goodies) are dehydrated or warmed using low temps (between 95 and no higher than 115 F usually).

It is a lifestyle change so you really need to be determined that this is important enough to make it your new way of nourishing and taking care of your body.

By anon50451 — On Oct 28, 2009

Fruit? Where does it say anything in this article about fruit? It's talking about baked goods and cooked meat and their browning(Maillard reaction).

By Geek222009 — On Oct 23, 2009

Hi I am keen to know what the risks of glycation are and if I should consider cutting fruit out of my diet completely to reduce the risk. Are there any experts out there who could advise. Replies much appreciated.

By anon38932 — On Jul 29, 2009

I recently attended a lecture given by a skin care product manufacturer. They are way ahead of the glycation game as far as skin care and aging are concerned. Their products are formulated with ingredients to reduce the damage of glycation of the skin. This is a fascinating subject and I have not heard of this in the field of skin care prior. I am a licensed ethetician (skin care therapist) and naturally I am concerned about the aging of my skin and the skin of my clients.

Karyn Maier
Karyn Maier
Contributing articles to All The Science is just one of Karyn Maier's many professional pursuits. Based in New York's...
Learn more
Share
https://www.allthescience.org/what-is-glycation.htm
Copy this link
All The Science, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

All The Science, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.