ABSTRACT
The discovery that, in humans, long-lived proteins undergo progressive changes has opened new avenues. These changes are characterized as advanced glycation end products (AGEs) which result from the Maillard reaction to form Schiff base between the protein amino group and car bonyl group derived from carbohydrate, lipid, and ascorbate. AGE lev els increase mildly with age and moderately in diabetic patients with hyperglycemia. The subsequent discovery that AGEs accumulate mark edly in uremic patients came as a great surprise. Observed serum AGE levels were indeed elevated several times above those of diabetic pa tients and appeared unrelated to elevated glucose levels.
