ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on studies pertaining to advanced glycation end products (AGEs) in healthy infants and children, those with obesity, prediabetes as well as in newly diagnosed and long-standing diabetes with complications such as atherosclerosis, nephropathy, neuropathy, and retinopathy. It reviews evidence supporting a role of AGEs and their receptor in children with renal disease without pre-existing diabetes. The chapter shows that exogenous AGEs derived from diet and tobacco exposure can be at least partially absorbed into the circulation and that the dietary AGE intake correlates with blood levels of AGEs as well as markers of inflammation and insulin resistance in adults. Patients with long-standing diabetes mellitus (DM) are at an increased risk for developing atherosclerosis, retinopathy, nephropathy, neuropathy, and cardiovascular disease. AGEs have been long known to be elevated at an earlier age in the presence of DM and are also involved in the pathogenesis of diabetic atherosclerosis.
