A 4-week high-AGE diet does not impair glucose metabolism and vascular function in obese individuals

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Abstract

BACKGROUND Accumulation of advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs) may contribute to the pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes and its vascular complications. AGEs are widely present in food, but whether restricting AGE intake improves risk factors for type 2 diabetes and vascular dysfunction is controversial.METHODS Abdominally obese but otherwise healthy individuals were randomly assigned to a specifically designed 4-week diet low or high in AGEs in a double-blind, parallel design. Insulin sensitivity, secretion, and clearance were assessed by a combined hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic and hyperglycemic clamp. Micro- and macrovascular function, inflammation, and lipid profiles were assessed by state-of-the-art in vivo measurements and biomarkers. Specific urinary and plasma AGEs Nε-(carboxymethyl)lysine (CML), Nε-(1-carboxyethyl)lysine (CEL), and Nδ-(5-hydro-5-methyl-4-imidazolon-2-yl)-ornithine (MG-H1) were assessed by mass spectrometry.RESULTS In 73 individuals (22 males, mean ± SD age and BMI 52 ± 14 years, 30.6 ± 4.0 kg/m2), intake of CML, CEL, and MG-H1 differed 2.7-, 5.3-, and 3.7-fold between the low- and high-AGE diets, leading to corresponding changes of these AGEs in urine and plasma. Despite this, there was no difference in insulin sensitivity, secretion, or clearance; micro- and macrovascular function; overall inflammation; or lipid profile between the low and high dietary AGE groups (for all treatment effects, P > 0.05).CONCLUSION This comprehensive RCT demonstrates very limited biological consequences of a 4-week diet low or high in AGEs in abdominally obese individuals.TRIAL REGISTRATION Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT03866343; trialregister.nl, NTR7594.FUNDING Diabetesfonds and ZonMw.

Authors

Armand M.A. Linkens, Alfons J.H.M. Houben, Petra M. Niessen, Nicole E.G. Wijckmans, Erica E.C. de Goei, Mathias D.G. Van den Eynde, Jean L.J.M. Scheijen, Marjo P.H. van den Waarenburg, Andrea Mari, Tos T.J.M. Berendschot, Lukas Streese, Henner Hanssen, Martien C.J.M. van Dongen, Christel C.J.A.W. van Gool, Coen D.A. Stehouwer, Simone J.M.P. Eussen, Casper G. Schalkwijk