Advanced glycation end products (AGE) are formed during the Maillard reaction where reducing carbohydrates react with lysine side chains and N-terminal amino groups of various macromolecules, particularly proteins (Figure 1). The advanced glycation end products can adversely affect the fuction of these macromolecules. One of the most prevalent AGE products, N-epsilon-(Carboxymethyl) Lysine, has been implicated in oxidative stress and vascular damage.
