(11-05-08) Could glucose be a proaging factor?

Kassi E, Papavassiliou AG.
Department of Biological Chemistry, Medical School, University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
There is an ever increasing scientific interest for the interplay between cell's environment and the aging process. Although it is known that calorie restriction affects longevity, the exact molecular mechanisms through which nutrients influence various cell signaling/modulators of lifespan remain a largely unresolved issue. Among nutrients, glucose constitutes an evolutionarily stable, precious metabolic fuel which is catabolized through glycolytic pathway providing energy in the form of ATP and consuming NAD. Accumulating evidence shows that among the important regulators of aging process are autophagy, sirtuin activity and oxidative stress. In light of recent work indicating that glucose availability decreases lifespan whilst impaired glucose metabolism extends life expectancy, the present article deals with the potential role of glucose in the aging process by regulating -directly through its metabolism or indirectly through insulin secretion- autophagy, sirtuins as well as other modulators of aging like oxidative stress and advanced glycation end-products (AGEs).

Source: J Cell Mol Med. 2008 Apr 8

News

---

In evidenza

"L'informazione presente nel sito serve a migliorare, e non a sostituire, il rapporto medico-paziente."

Per coloro che hanno problemi di salute si consiglia di consultare sempre il proprio medico curante.