Plasma advanced glycation end products (AGEs), receptors for AGEs and their correlation with inflammatory markers in middle school-age children

Aim: Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and/or their receptors (RAGE) are significantly positively correlated with adiposity, inflammation, dyslipidemia, and insulin resistance in adults. However, the relationships between AGEs, RAGE, and adiposity-related comorbidites in children have not been well studied. Methods: In a cross-sectional study of 88 children (age 11-15 years) from the New York area enrolled in the Reduce Obesity and Diabetes (ROAD) study, we examined the correlation of the AGE N^ε-(carboxymethyl)lysine (CML), soluble RAGE (sRAGE), and endogenous secretory RAGE (esRAGE) with adiposity, inflammatory markers [interleukin-6 (IL-6), C-reactive protein, tumor necrosis factor-α], adiponectin, lipids, insulin sensitivity, and insulin secretory capacity. Results: Pediatric CML levels were ∼20% below average adult levels. CML was significantly (p < 0.05) positively correlated with age and insulin sensitivity and negatively with adiposity, dyslipidemia and IL-6. sRAGE correlated positively with esRAGE and negatively with adiposity and IL-6. Both sRAGE and esRAGE correlated negatively with insulin secretory capacity. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that unlike adults, CML is negatively associated with adiposity and adiposity-related comorbidity risk in children. As in adults, sRAGE and esRAGE were, to varying degrees, negatively correlated with body fatness and risk factors for adiposity-related comorbidities.