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 Glycated LDL and cardiovascular health: the LDL cholesterol number on your lab report tells you almost nothing about real heart disease risk — because sugar modification turns ordinary LDL into small, dense, sticky particles that slip through a damaged glycocalyx and build plaque. Summary Paul Reynolds, biomedical scientist and Professor of Cell Biology, dismantles the simplistic “lower the LDL number” story of heart disease in this eye-opening episode of the College of Glycation. He explains how the endothelial glycocalyx — the protective fuzzy coat lining every blood vessel — is stripped away by even brief spikes in blood glucose, leaving the artery wall exposed and sticky. At the same time, methylglyoxal and other glycating agents attack apoB on LDL particles, defacing the address label so the liver can no longer clear them efficiently. Instead, scavenger receptors on macrophages gobble them up, turning the cells into foam cells — the building blocks of atherosclerotic plaque. Landmark studies show that methylglyoxal alone converts normal LDL into the small, dense, retention-prone form most likely to cause disease (Rabbani & Thornalley), while glycated LDL further degrades the glycocalyx in a vicious cycle. Blocking the AGE–RAGE axis with soluble RAGE dramatically suppresses plaque formation even when glucose and lipids remain unchanged (Park et al.). Human evidence confirms the fingerprint of glycation (CML) accumulates inside plaques and that circulating modified-LDL immune complexes predict actual heart attacks and strokes — often independent of the LDL cholesterol number. Reynolds connects the dots to insulin resistance as the upstream metabolic driver and offers clear, actionable strategies: tighten glucose control to protect both the glycocalyx and the LDL particle itself, and use the triglyceride-to-HDL ratio as a practical proxy for the dangerous small-dense LDL subfraction. The real villain isn’t the quantity of LDL — it’s the chemically modified particle created by glycation. 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: LDL number vs real risk 0:34 What kind of LDL actually matters 1:09 Glycation & methylglyoxal on LDL 2:25 Glycocalyx: first line of defense 3:43 High sugar strips glycocalyx fast 5:04 Glycated apoB ruins clearance 6:28 Scavenger receptors → foam cells 8:33 Glycation alone makes foam cells 9:17 Methylglyoxal creates small dense sticky LDL 10:45 Modified LDL further destroys glycocalyx 11:29 Vicious cycle: sugar + glycated LDL 12:51 Blocking RAGE stops plaque 14:13 Modified LDL predicts real events 17:05 Lower glucose protects both 17:44 TG/HDL ratio as proxy for dangerous LDL 19:10 Reframe: modified LDL is the villain 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. #GlycatedLDL #Glycocalyx #ModifiedLDL #FoamCells #AGERAGE #insulinresistance #Glycation #AGEs #inflammation #OxidativeStress #ROS #Redox #CollegeOfGlycation #Ketodiet #LowCarb #HealthyAging #SugarDamage #HealthyLiving #KetoDiet #LowCarb #HealthPodcast #AntiAging #Nutrition #BiomedicalScience #BloodSugar #Wellness #HealthTips #SciencePodcast #HealthyEating 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)