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)
Topic Lipoxidation and ALEs: the overlooked half of carbonyl stress — how oxidized polyunsaturated fats generate reactive aldehydes that form advanced lipoxidation end-products, bind RAGE, and drive the same permanent protein damage and inflammation as AGEs. Summary Paul Reynolds, biomedical scientist and Professor of Cell Biology, expands the College of Glycation beyond sugar into the parallel world of lipoxidation. Polyunsaturated fatty acids in cell membranes undergo radical chain peroxidation, fragmenting into highly reactive aldehydes such as 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE), malondialdehyde (MDA), and acrolein. These electrophiles permanently adduct lysine, histidine, and cysteine residues to form advanced lipoxidation end-products (ALEs). The chemistry is nearly identical to glycation: same reactive carbonyls, same permanence, same functional consequences for proteins. Landmark work by Baynes and Thorpe showed that carboxymethyllysine (CML) — one of the most measured “AGEs” — forms readily from oxidized polyunsaturated fats even in the complete absence of sugar. ALEs also bind RAGE through the same structural mechanism as AGEs, activating NF-κB-driven inflammation. Clearance depends on enzymes such as ALDH2 (with a common East-Asian variant that reduces capacity), glutathione S-transferases, and aldose reductase. Clinically this pathway contributes to atherosclerotic plaque, fatty liver (especially with alcohol-derived MAA adducts), neurodegeneration, and chronic lung disease. Practical levers include choosing less oxidizable fats for high-heat cooking, protecting polyunsaturated oils from heat, light, and oxygen, supporting carbonyl scavenging (carnosine/beta-alanine), and matching vitamin E intake to polyunsaturated fat load. Glycation was never only a sugar story; it is a story of reactive carbonyls from two major inputs, and most protections against one branch protect against the other. References and more For complete show notes and references, we invite you to become an Insider subscriber. You'll enjoy a weekly newsletter, premier early access to College of Glycation episodes with full reprints of cited publications, a dedicated College of Glycation question portal with live recorded answers, Paul's Weekly Research Review Podcasts, and more. Learn more: paulreynoldsphd.com Translation Notes You can click the gear icon at the bottom of this video to auto-translate captions. For example, to translate into French, select Subtitles, choose Auto-Translate, then first choose English, then choose Auto-Translate again, then choose French. Timestamps 0:00 Intro: Lipoxidation & ALEs 0:37 ALEs from fat vs AGEs from sugar 1:18 Lipid peroxidation process 3:31 ALEs form from reactive aldehydes 5:03 CML from oxidized fat (Baines) 7:16 Hybrid MDA adducts 8:45 RAGE binds ALEs 11:06 Smoke drives ALEs-RAGE in lung 13:12 Aldehyde clearance (ALDH2) 16:17 Sites: plaque, liver, brain, lung 19:52 PUFAs more oxidizable 21:24 Oil handling matters 22:08 Carnosine scavenges ALEs 24:58 Carbonyl stress = sugar + fat NOTE The information presented is for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Paul Reynolds is a biomedical scientist and professor of cell biology, not a licensed clinician. Always seek the advice of your own qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions. #Lipoxidation #ALEs #4HNE #CarbonylStress #ALDH2 #insulinresistance #Glycation #AGEs #inflammation #OxidativeStress #ROS #Redox #CollegeOfGlycation #Ketodiet #LowCarb #InsulinResistance #HealthyAging #SugarDamage #HealthyLiving #KetoDiet #LowCarb #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 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)