Why is it in the news?

• A recent study published in the International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition identifies a diet high in advanced glycation end products (AGEs)—primarily found in ultra-processed and fast foods—as a leading cause of diabetes in India, which has the highest number of diabetics globally.

More about the news

• Funded by the Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology, the study emphasizes that AGEs, formed when sugars react with fats or proteins during high-temperature cooking, are directly linked to inflammation, a significant factor in diabetes development.
• The research highlights that individual on low-AGE diets exhibited improved insulin sensitivity and reduced inflammatory levels compared to those consuming high-AGE diets. The findings suggest that adopting a low-AGE diet could be an effective strategy to mitigate diabetes risk.
• Currently, around 101 million Asian Indians are affected by diabetes, with rising global trends in diabetes, pre-diabetes, and obesity.
• The study further explains that glycation—a non-enzymatic process where a sugar molecule binds to a protein or lipid—can trigger harmful reactions in the body.
• To combat this, the researchers recommend a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat milk to reduce oxidative stress, which contributes to inflammation and cell damage.