Toxic AGEs (TAGE) theory: a new concept for preventing the development of diseases related to lifestyle

BACKGROUND: The habitual excessive intake of sugar (i.e., sucrose and high-fructose corn syrup), which has been implicated in the onset of diabetes mellitus, induces excessive production of glyceraldehyde, a metabolite produced during glucose and fructose metabolism, in hepatocytes, neuronal cells, and cardiomyocytes. MAIN TEXT: Toxic advanced glycation end-products (toxic AGEs, TAGE) are formed from reactions between glyceraldehyde and intracellular proteins, and their accumulation contributes to various cellular disorders. TAGE leakage from cells affects the surrounding cells and increases serum TAGE levels, promoting the onset and/or development of lifestyle-related diseases (LSRD). Therefore, serum TAGE levels have potential as a novel biomarker for predicting the onset and/or progression of LSRD, and minimizing the effects of TAGE might help to prevent the onset and/or progression of LSRD. Serum TAGE levels are closely related to LSRD associated with the excessive ingestion of sugar and/or dietary AGEs. CONCLUSIONS: The TAGE theory is also expected to open new perspectives for research into numerous other diseases.