Sugar, glycation and aging skin
What it found
Sugars can cross-link collagen fibers in the skin, forming advanced glycation end products (AGEs) that make the fibers harder to repair.
This process speeds up when sugar levels are high and is further boosted by ultraviolet light.
What they found
Collagen cross-linking
Glucose and fructose link amino acids in collagen and elastin, the proteins that support the dermis. This cross-linking makes the fibers unable to repair easily.
AGEs formation
The linking of sugars to collagen and elastin produces advanced glycation end products, or AGEs.
Acceleration by high sugar
The process is accelerated in all body tissues when sugar is elevated.
UV light effect
In the skin, ultraviolet light further stimulates the formation of AGEs.
Tissues affected
The effect is being defined in vascular, renal, retinal, coronary, and cutaneous tissues.
Reducing glycation
Methods of reducing the glycation load include careful diet and use of supplements.
What the authors conclude
“The effect of sugars on aging skin is governed by the simple act of covalently cross-linking two collagen fibers, which renders both of them incapable of easy repair.”
Also in their conclusions
- They state that the effect of sugars on aging skin is governed by the simple act of covalently cross-linking two collagen fibers, which renders both of them incapable of easy repair.
- They note that the effect on vascular, renal, retinal, coronary, and cutaneous tissues is being defined, as are methods of reducing the glycation load through careful diet and use of supplements.
How it was done
The authors wanted to explain how sugars affect aging skin, focusing on the cross-linking of collagen and the formation of AGEs.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- This paper does not report a study in people or animals, so it cannot show cause and effect.
- It does not provide numbers or measures of how much sugar affects skin aging.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- Dartmouth Medical School, USA
The paper
- Title
- Nutrition and aging skin: sugar and glycation
- Type
- Study
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Danby FW (2010). Nutrition and aging skin: sugar and glycation. Clinics in dermatology. doi:10.1016/j.clindermatol.2010.03.018PubMed 20620757DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error