Advanced glycation end products and cardiovascular disease

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of mortality worldwide. Advanced glycation end products [AGEs] seem to play an important role for the development and/or progression of CVD mainly through induction of oxidative stress and inflammation. AGEs are a heterogenous group of molecules formed by the nonenzymatic reaction of reducing sugars with amino acids of proteins, lipids and nucleic acids. Recent studies suggest that in addition to those endogenously formed, diet constitutes an important exogenous source of AGEs. Diet-derived AGEs contribute to the whole body AGE pool and the AGE-related pathology. Recent in vitro and in vivo studies revealed significant correlations between diet-derived AGEs and several risk factors and/or markers of CVD, suggesting the dietary AGEs restriction as a promising therapeutic intervention.