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 episode of the College of Glycation, Dr. Paul Reynolds—Professor of Cell Biology—turns to the most visible organ in the body: the integumentary system. Your skin, hair, and nails are not just cosmetic features—they are dynamic, metabolically active tissues that reflect your internal health with remarkable accuracy. And when glycation accelerates, the damage is written directly on the surface. Glycation is a non-enzymatic reaction where sugars bind to proteins, forming advanced glycation end products (AGEs). In the skin, AGEs cross-link long-lived proteins like collagen and elastin, making them stiff, brittle, and resistant to normal repair. Through direct structural damage and activation of the AGE–RAGE inflammatory pathway, glycation drives oxidative stress, barrier dysfunction, impaired immune defense, premature aging, and delayed wound healing. This lecture explains why collagen’s slow turnover makes it especially vulnerable, how elastin loses its recoil, and why glycated skin becomes thicker, less elastic, and more prone to wrinkles and sagging. Dr. Reynolds also explores how AGEs disrupt the skin barrier, reduce antimicrobial peptide production, impair wound healing, and contribute to complications like diabetic ulcers. You’ll learn how skin autofluorescence reveals cumulative AGE burden—even in non-diabetics—and why subtle signs like dull tone, yellowing, dryness, slow healing, hair thinning, and brittle nails may reflect deeper metabolic stress. Backed by peer-reviewed research, this episode connects cellular biochemistry to real-world outcomes and reinforces a powerful message: your skin is a visible reporter of your metabolic health. Topics Covered -What glycation is and how AGEs form -How collagen cross-linking stiffens and ages skin -Why elastin loses elasticity under glycation stress -AGE–RAGE signaling and chronic inflammation -Skin barrier dysfunction in metabolic disease -Impaired wound healing and diabetic ulcers -Skin autofluorescence as a metabolic biomarker -Hair, nail, and microvascular effects of glycation -Practical strategies to reduce glycation burden Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction to the episode & overview of organ system series 00:32 – Introduction to the integumentary system (skin, hair, nails) 01:10 – Skin as a visible marker of metabolic health 01:44 – Refresher on glycation (non-enzymatic reaction) 02:26 – Formation of AGEs (Advanced Glycation End Products) 03:06 – How AGEs cause damage (cross-linking & RAGE activation) 03:51 – Metabolic drivers of glycation 04:32 – Overview of skin structure & significance 05:15 – Epidermis structure and function 06:43 – Dermis structure (collagen, elastin, hyaluronic acid) 08:08 – Hypodermis overview 08:50 – Skin immune function (SALT system) 10:15 – Collagen cross-linking & glycation damage 12:18 – Elastin damage & visible aging effects 13:43 – Accumulation of glycated collagen over time 14:24 – Skin barrier dysfunction in diabetes 15:45 – Impaired antimicrobial defenses 16:29 – Glycation and wound healing disruption 17:58 – Diabetic foot ulcers & long-term tissue damage 19:22 – Skin as a metabolic health window 20:04 – Skin autofluorescence (SAF) & metabolic syndrome 21:35 – Experimental glycation skin models & aminoguanidine 22:57 – Skin yellowing & pigmentation changes 23:43 – Hair and nail effects of metabolic dysfunction 25:06 – Key takeaways: skin reflects internal health 25:46 – Modifiable lifestyle factors to reduce glycation 27:11 – Closing message & next episode preview If you're interested in aging, metabolic health, dermatology, or the cellular roots of chronic disease, this episode makes one thing clear: protecting your skin begins with protecting your metabolism. About Dr. Paul Reynolds Dr. Reynolds is a biomedical scientist and professor at Brigham Young University, known for translating complex physiology into clear, practical insights. The College of Glycation series explores how metabolic chemistry shapes aging, chronic disease, and organ system health. #SkinHealth #Glycation #AGEs #Collagen #Wrinkles #InsulinResistance #BloodSugar #MetabolicHealth #HealthyAging #Inflammation #OxidativeStress #CollegeOfGlycation #Nutrition #BiomedicalScience #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)