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 essential episode of the College of Glycation series, Dr. Paul Reynolds—Professor of Cell Biology and Physiology—dives deep into the liver, the metabolic command center of the human body, to reveal how glycation and chronic inflammation quietly sabotage metabolic health. Positioned at the crossroads of glucose, lipid, and protein metabolism, the liver is uniquely vulnerable to sugar-driven damage—and uniquely powerful in shaping whole-body disease. Glycation isn’t just a blood sugar issue—it’s a liver issue. Because the liver receives first-pass exposure to everything absorbed from the gut, hepatocytes are bathed in high concentrations of glucose and fructose, creating a perfect environment for advanced glycation end product (AGE) formation. In this episode, Dr. Reynolds explains how glycation disrupts normal liver physiology, impairs insulin signaling, fuels fatty liver disease, and drives fibrosis, cirrhosis, and even liver cancer. Using decades of peer-reviewed science, Dr. Reynolds unpacks how fructose metabolism uniquely accelerates glycation through the production of methylglyoxal, one of the most potent glycating agents in human biology. You’ll learn how AGE accumulation activates inflammatory RAGE signaling, damages mitochondria, worsens insulin resistance, and creates vicious metabolic cycles that extend far beyond the liver—affecting cardiovascular health, diabetes risk, and systemic inflammation. This episode isn’t just about pathology—it’s about understanding leverage points. By grasping how glycation and inflammation undermine liver function, you’ll gain a powerful framework for restoring metabolic health, improving insulin sensitivity, and supporting the liver’s remarkable regenerative capacity. Topics Covered: -Foundational liver anatomy and physiology -The liver’s central role in glucose, lipid, and protein metabolism -What glycation is and why the liver is especially vulnerable -Fructose metabolism and methylglyoxal formation -AGE accumulation and RAGE-mediated inflammation -Hepatic insulin resistance and metabolic dysfunction -Fatty liver disease (MASLD) and progression to NASH -Fibrosis, cirrhosis, and liver cancer risk -The gut–liver axis and metabolic endotoxemia -Why the liver is both a victim and driver of metabolic disease Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction: The Liver and the College of Glycation Framework 00:32 – Why the Liver Sits at the Center of Metabolic Health 01:14 – What Glycation Is and Why It Matters 01:53 – AGEs, Inflammation, and the Role of Fructose 02:32 – Liver Size, Dual Blood Supply, and First-Pass Metabolism 03:13 – Hepatocytes, Kupffer Cells, and Stellate Cells 04:35 – Glucose Homeostasis: Glycogenesis and Glycogenolysis 05:19 – Gluconeogenesis and Protein Synthesis 06:01 – Glycated Albumin and Liver Metabolic Outputs 06:46 – Liver Regeneration and the Limits of Repair 07:27 – High Portal Glucose and Enzyme Glycation 08:07 – Fructose Metabolism and De Novo Lipogenesis 08:48 – Methylglyoxal and Potent Glycation Pathways 09:31 – AGE–RAGE Signaling and Liver Fibrosis 10:12 – Hepatic Insulin Resistance 10:56 – Vicious Cycles of Glucose and Fat Overproduction 11:39 – MASLD (Fatty Liver Disease) Mechanisms 12:27 – Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Oxidative Stress 13:18 – Progression to NASH and Inflammatory Injury 14:01 – Cirrhosis and Liver Cancer Risk 14:47 – The Gut–Liver Axis and Metabolic Endotoxemia 16:14 – The Liver as Both Victim and Perpetrator 16:57 – Metabolic Consequences of Liver Dysfunction 17:39 – Liver Regeneration Through Metabolic Intervention 18:20 – Preventing and Treating Liver Disease Whether you’re concerned about insulin resistance, fatty liver disease, diabetes, or long-term metabolic health, this lecture provides the mechanistic clarity needed to understand—and reverse—the silent damage driven by glycation. About Dr. Paul Reynolds Dr. Paul Reynolds is a biomedical scientist and Professor of Cell Biology and Physiology at Brigham Young University. Known for his ability to translate complex molecular pathways into clear, actionable insights, Dr. Reynolds created the College of Glycation series to help people understand the hidden biochemical processes driving aging and chronic disease. Paul’s favorite yerba mate: https://ufeelgreat.com/usa/en/c/C63EE3 Paul’s favorite source for clean, earth-sourced essentials such as salt, elecrolytes, 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)