Age- and diabetes-accelerated glycation in the human aorta

The extent of glycation in pieces of human aorta was estimated by determining the content of furosine, which is derived from fructose-lysine through acid hydrolysis. Glycation of human aorta was found to increase with advancing age. A significant positive correlation was found between the degree of atherosclerosis and the furosine level in the aorta in subjects over 60 years of age. Furthermore, the furosine level in the aortae of diabetic patients was significantly higher than that in normal subjects of the same age. These results suggest not only that glycation in the aorta may increase with aging and with the development of arteriosclerosis, but also that diabetes may be related as well to premature aging as to arteriosclerosis.