Effect of Dietary Intake of Advanced Glycation End Products on Metabolic Parameters and Anthropometric Measurements in Adults

TL;DR

This study shows that high intake of dietary advanced glycation end products (AGEs) is linked to worse metabolic health and body measurements in adults.

Contribution

The study provides new evidence linking high AGE consumption to increased metabolic syndrome risk and adverse biochemical markers.

Findings

High AGE consumers had significantly lower HDL cholesterol and higher hip circumference, fasting glucose, and LDL cholesterol.

High AGE intake was associated with increased risk of metabolic syndrome and inadequate physical activity.

Women consumed significantly more AGEs compared to men.

Abstract

Background

Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are exogenously taken up and endogenously secreted. The amount of intake and the level of effect can be affected by dietary interventions and some lifestyle factors.

Methodology

This study was conducted with 920 adults aged 18-64 years. The physical activity status of the participants was questioned, anthropometric measurements were taken, and blood biochemical findings were recorded to calculate metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease risk. Daily consumption of carboxymethyl lysine, an important type of AGEs, was calculated with a validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire and classified as high, moderate, and low intake levels.

Results

Those with high AGE consumption ate significantly more at lunch and dinner. It was found that 446 (73.8%) women consumed significantly more AGE (P = 0.003). Additionally, the majority of individuals with high AGE consumption (628, 74.4%) engaged in significantly more inadequate physical activity (P = 0.007). The risk of metabolic syndrome was found to be significantly higher in those with high AGE consumption than in those with moderate consumption (P = 0.029). AGE consumption was inversely proportional to high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (HDL-c) (β (standard error [SE]) = -0.003 (0.001), P = 0.019). AGE consumption amounts were found to be directly proportional to hip circumference (β (SE) = 0.005 (0.001), P = 0.000), fasting blood glucose (β (SE) = 0.001 (0.000), P = 0.008), total cholesterol (β (SE) = 0.001 (0.000), P = 0.009), LDL-cholesterol (β (SE) = 0.002 (0.000), P = 0.000), and diastolic blood pressure (β (SE) = 0.004 (0.002), P = 0.005).

Conclusions

Dietary AGE intake affects anthropometric measurements and biochemical findings. Future studies can be planned as interventions that will reduce dietary AGE intake or its effects on the body and observe its metabolic effects in the long term.