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—launches a new physiology-focused arc by uncovering how glycation disrupts the metabolic and endocrine systems. Building on earlier episodes that introduced glycation as a core driver of aging and disease, Dr. Reynolds now lays the biochemical foundation needed to understand how sugar damage begins at the level of hormones, energy regulation, and blood glucose control. Glycation is the non-enzymatic process by which sugars bind to proteins and lipids, forming toxic compounds known as AGEs (advanced glycation end products). Within the metabolic and endocrine systems, AGEs interfere with insulin signaling, hormone responsiveness, and cellular energy handling. By crosslinking proteins and activating inflammatory pathways such as RAGE, glycation promotes insulin resistance, oxidative stress, and chronic low-grade inflammation—quietly destabilizing metabolism long before overt disease appears. This lecture connects core physiology with real-world pathology. Dr. Reynolds walks through how insulin and glucagon regulate blood sugar, how the body shifts between fed and fasted states, and how energy is partitioned across liver, muscle, and adipose tissue. He then shows how chronic hyperglycemia, dietary AGEs, and inflammation derail these tightly regulated systems, fueling insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, and type 2 diabetes. Backed by peer-reviewed research, this episode translates complex endocrine and metabolic physiology into a clear, unified framework for understanding chronic disease. From beta-cell dysfunction and metaflammation to vascular damage and long-term complications, Dr. Reynolds explains why metabolic health underpins every other organ system—and why glycation sits at the center of modern disease. Topics Covered -Core physiology of the metabolic and endocrine systems -Insulin and glucagon regulation of blood glucose -Fed vs. fasted metabolism and energy partitioning -The chemistry of non-enzymatic glycation and AGE formation -How AGEs disrupt insulin signaling pathways -Insulin resistance as both cause and consequence of glycation -Metaflammation and chronic low-grade inflammation -Glycation’s role in metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes Timestamps 00:36 Glycation Overview and Why It Matters 01:12 Series Roadmap: Physiology, Glycation, and Disease 01:51 Why Metabolic & Endocrine Systems Come First 02:32 Physiology 101: Glucose Regulation Basics 02:32 Insulin & Glucagon: The Core Hormones 03:13 Insulin Actions in Liver, Muscle, and Fat 04:39 Glucagon and Blood Sugar Balance 04:39 Fed State vs Fasted State Metabolism 05:59 Hormonal Control & Energy Partitioning 08:06 Baseline Physiology Summary 08:49 Non-Enzymatic Glycation Chemistry Explained 10:15 What Drives Excess Glycation 10:59 Chronic High Blood Sugar & AGE Formation 11:43 Insulin Resistance and the Glycation Feedback Loop 13:48 Metainflammation: Chronic Metabolic Inflammation 14:36 Glycation, Inflammation, and Obesity 15:18 Type 2 Diabetes: Pathophysiology Overview 16:03 Beta Cell Dysfunction & Glycation Damage 17:28 Diabetic Complications: Microvascular Damage 18:12 Neuropathy, Nephropathy, and Retinopathy 18:54 Macrovascular Disease & Metabolic Syndrome 19:41 Glycation, Endothelial Dysfunction & Cardiovascular Risk 20:21 Key Takeaways & What’s Next: Cardiovascular System Whether you’re studying physiology, managing blood sugar, or seeking a deeper understanding of chronic disease, this episode reveals how glycation quietly rewires metabolism—and why restoring endocrine balance is essential for long-term health and resilience. About Dr. Paul Reynolds Dr. Reynolds is a biomedical scientist and professor at Brigham Young University, known for translating complex cellular and physiological science into clear, actionable insights. His College of Glycation series empowers students and lifelong learners to understand and combat the molecular processes that drive aging, metabolic disease, and systemic dysfunction. #CollegeOfGlycation #Glycation #AGEs #MetabolicHealth #EndocrineSystem #InsulinResistance #BloodSugar #Inflammation #HealthyAging #BiomedicalScience #Nutrition #HealthEducation 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)