The College of Glycation is an educational video series dedicated to helping viewers understand one of the most critical and often overlooked processes in human biology: glycation. Led by Dr. Paul Reynolds, Professor of Cell Biology and Physiology at Brigham Young University, this series explores how sugar interacts with proteins and fats in the body, forming harmful compounds called Advanced Glycation End-products (AGEs). These compounds accelerate aging, contribute to chronic diseases, and play a key role in metabolic dysfunction. Each video is designed to break down complex topics into clear, practical insights. Whether you’re a healthcare professional, student, or simply someone seeking to improve your health, this series will give you a deeper understanding of the biological roots of inflammation, insulin resistance, and cellular damage—and what you can do to address them.
Curated by: PaulReynoldsPhD (74 videos)
In this compelling episode of the College of Glycation series, Dr. Paul Reynolds—Professor of Cell Biology and Physiology—connects the dots between glycation and a range of specialized health conditions that are often misunderstood. After laying the biochemical foundation of glycation in previous episodes, Dr. Reynolds now explores how this silent molecular process may underlie conditions like frozen shoulder, vertigo, and even genetic variants such as MTHFR. This episode bridges complex metabolic science with real-world diagnoses, helping viewers understand how advanced glycation end products (AGEs) accumulate in long-lived proteins like collagen, myelin, and vascular tissues—driving dysfunction across joints, nerves, and the inner ear. Dr. Reynolds explains how glycation-induced crosslinking and RAGE-mediated inflammation may contribute to joint stiffness, cartilage breakdown, vestibular dysfunction, and neurological stress. You’ll learn how glycation doesn’t just impact traditional metabolic diseases like diabetes—but may also play a hidden role in conditions labeled as “idiopathic,” including adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder), Ménière’s-related vertigo, and chronic joint degeneration. The episode also unpacks how MTHFR gene variants and elevated homocysteine introduce an additional pathway of protein damage that overlaps with glycation, compounding long-term risk. Most importantly, this lecture reframes these conditions through a metabolic lens—empowering you to see seemingly unrelated symptoms as part of a unified biochemical process and pointing toward actionable strategies for reducing long-term damage. Topics Covered: -What glycation is and how AGEs form in the body -Why long-lived proteins (collagen, cartilage, myelin) are most vulnerable -The link between glycation and frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis) -How AGEs contribute to joint stiffness and cartilage breakdown -Vertigo and inner ear dysfunction as metabolic and microvascular issues -The role of glycation in vestibular disorders and Ménière’s disease -MTHFR gene variants, homocysteine, and protein damage -How glycation and homocysteine pathways overlap and amplify risk -Glycation’s impact on nerves, skin, and long-term aging -Why HbA1c doesn’t capture total glycation burden Timestamps 00:32 Why Glycation Matters 01:10 Glycation Basics Explained 02:27 The “Cooking” Analogy (Maillard Reaction) 03:51 How AGEs Damage Your Body 05:15 What Causes Excess Glycation 05:58 Hidden Health Connections 06:39 Frozen Shoulder & Glycation 09:23 Whole-Body Joint Impact 10:47 Osteoarthritis as a Metabolic Issue 12:50 Glycation & Vertigo 13:28 Inner Ear & Microvascular Damage 15:38 Meniere’s Disease Connection 17:06 MTHFR Gene Explained 19:20 Homocysteine & Protein Damage 20:49 Brain & Vascular Risks 22:13 Nervous System Effects 23:31 Skin as a Glycation Marker 24:11 Limits of HbA1c 25:33 Big Picture Takeaway 26:54 What to Do Next Whether you're dealing with unexplained joint pain, recurring vertigo, or trying to understand how your genetics intersect with metabolic health, this episode offers a powerful new perspective. It challenges conventional thinking and reveals how many chronic conditions may share a common biochemical root—glycation. About Dr. Paul Reynolds Dr. Reynolds is a dynamic educator and biomedical scientist at Brigham Young University, known for making complex metabolic pathways both understandable and engaging. His College of Glycation series empowers individuals to uncover and confront the hidden molecular drivers of aging and chronic disease. #vertigo #MTHFR #frozenshoulder #jointpain #innerear #homocysteine #reduceglycation #reduceinflammation #insulinresistance #Glycation #AGEs #inflammation #OxidativeStress #ROS #Redox #CollegeOfGlycation #Ketodiet #LowCarb #InsulinResistance #HealthyAging #SugarDamage #HealthyLiving #HealthPodcast #AntiAging #Nutrition #BiomedicalScience #BloodSugar #Wellness #HealthTips #SciencePodcast #HealthyEating #CellularHealth #Keto #KetoCommunity #healtheducation Paul’s favorite yerba mate: https://unicity.link/121f260bfe Yerbe mate with a special formulated Balance fiber: https://ufeelgreat.com/c/PaulReynolds For the full Metabolic System storefront: https://shop.unicity.com/paulreynolds Paul’s favorite source for clean, earth-sourced essentials such as salt, electrolytes, hydration, pre-workout and more. Go to https://redmond.life and use PAULSALT for 15% discount. Paul’s favorite exogenous ketones: A high-quality option is the NSF-certified goBHB from Clean Form Nutrition, where you can use the code Paul10 for a 10% discount: https://cleanformnutrition.com/products/go-bhb Paul’s favorite allulose source: https://rxsugar.com (discount: PAUL20) Paul’s favorite health check-up for men or women: https://blokes.co/DRPAUL (discount: DRPAUL for 50% off of labs and smart supplements and 15% off all other products)