Anti-AGE Antioxidants: The Relationship between Free Radicals and Advanced Glycation End-products

Advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) are molecules both directly and indirectly responsible for many geriatric diseases. Some individuals may accumulate more AGEs than others due to several factors, individuals who accumulate more AGEs tend to manifest diseases such as Alzheimer's, arteriosclerosis and type 2 diabetes earlier in life. Free radicals have direct and indirect influence on the amount of serum and tissue AGEs, which leads to the question of whether the effects of AGEs can be attenuated by using exogenous and endogenous antioxidants. In this paper, we conducted a literature review on the compositions, origins, and associated pathologies of AGEs, in addition to the combat and prevention by antioxidants. Thirty-five scientific papers published between 1994 and 2021 in English and Portuguese were identified via SciELO, PubMed, Elsevier and Scopus. Through this review, we conclude that the direct and indirect relationship between AGEs and free radicals is a fact and no longer a speculation. In addition, there are studies that have been able to show the efficiency of some antioxidants in controlling specific AGEs, now commonly referred to as anti-AGEs antioxidants.