Dietary Advanced Glycation End Products (AGEs) and Urinary Fluorescent AGEs in Children and Adolescents: Findings
Marika Dello Russo1, Ivana Sirangelo2, Fabio Lauria1
1Institute of Food Sciences, National Research Council, 83100 Avellino, Italy.
Insights
This study found no link between dietary advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and urinary AGEs in children. However, higher dietary AGEs intake was linked to specific dietary patterns in youth.
Area of Science:
- Nutrition Science
- Paediatric Health
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are linked to adult chronic diseases.
- The role of AGEs in paediatric populations is not well understood.
- Dietary AGEs (dAGEs) are a potential source of exposure in children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between dietary and urinary fluorescent AGEs in children and adolescents.
- To identify sources of dAGEs and their association with diet and anthropometry.
- To explore the health implications of AGEs in paediatric populations.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the I.Family project (Italian sample).
- Collected 24-hour dietary recall data from 1048 participants to estimate dAGEs intake.
- Measured urinary fluorescent AGE levels in 544 individuals.
- Compared dietary intake, urinary AGEs, and anthropometric parameters based on dAGEs intake levels.
Main Results:
- No significant correlation was found between dietary and urinary fluorescent AGE levels.
- No significant association between dAGEs intake and anthropometric parameters.
- Higher dAGEs intake correlated with diets rich in protein (meat) and fat, and lower in carbohydrates.
- Higher dAGEs intake was associated with lower consumption of ultra-processed foods.
Conclusions:
- A clear association between dietary and urinary fluorescent AGEs is lacking in children.
- A distinct dietary pattern is associated with increased dAGEs intake in paediatric populations.
- Further research is needed to understand the health effects of dAGEs in children.
Abstract:
Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) have been implicated in chronic diseases in adults, but their role in paediatric populations remains uncertain. This study, conducted on the Italian sample of the I.Family project, aimed to investigate the relationship between dietary and urinary fluorescent AGEs in children and adolescents. The secondary objective was to investigate the sources of dietary AGEs (dAGEs) and their association with dietary composition and anthropometric parameters. Dietary data were collected from 1048 participants via 24 h dietary recall in 2013/2014 to estimate dAGEs intake, while urinary fluorescent AGE levels were measured in 544 individuals. Participants were stratified based on dAGEs intake and compared with respect to urinary fluorescent AGE levels, anthropometric measurements, and dietary intake. The results showed no significant correlation between dietary and urinary fluorescent AGE levels, nor between dAGEs and anthropometric parameters. Notably, higher dAGEs were associated with a diet richer in protein (especially from meat sources) and fat and lower in carbohydrates. In addition, the consumption of ultra-processed foods was lower in participants with a higher DAGE intake. This study highlights the lack of a clear association between dietary and urinary fluorescent AGEs in children, but suggests a distinctive dietary pattern associated with increased dAGEs intake. Further investigation is warranted to elucidate the potential health implications of dAGEs in paediatric populations.
