AUTHOR=Turki Jalil Abduladheem , Alameri Ameer A. , Iqbal Doewes Rumi , El-Sehrawy Amr A. , Ahmad Irfan , Ramaiah Pushpamala , Kadhim Mustafa M. , Kzar Hamzah H. , Sivaraman R. , Romero-Parra Rosario Mireya , Ansari Mohammad Javed , Fakri Mustafa Yasser TITLE=Circulating and dietary advanced glycation end products and obesity in an adult population: A paradox of their detrimental effects in obesity JOURNAL=Frontiers in Endocrinology VOLUME=13 YEAR=2022 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/endocrinology/articles/10.3389/fendo.2022.966590 DOI=10.3389/fendo.2022.966590 ISSN=1664-2392 ABSTRACT=Background

The detrimental role of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) against cardio-metabolic health has been revealed in several previous reports. However, the results of studies regarding the association between AGEs and obesity measurements are inconsistent. In the current meta-analysis, we aimed to quantitatively summarize the results of studies that evaluated the association between circulating and dietary AGEs with obesity measurements among the adult population.

Methods

A systematic search from PubMed, Embase, and Scopus electronic databases until 30 October 2022 retrieved a total of 21,429 observational studies. After duplicate removal, title/abstract screening, and full-text reading by two independent researchers, a final number of 18 manuscripts remained to be included in the meta-analysis.

Results

Those in the highest category of circulating AGEs had ~1.5 kg/m2 reduced BMI compared with those in the lowest AGEs category [weighted mean difference (WMD): −1.485; CI: −2.459, −0.511; p = 0.003], while a nonsignificant increase in BMI was observed in the highest versus lowest category of dietary AGEs (WMD: 0.864, CI: −0.365, 2.094; p = 0.186). Also, lower amounts of circulating AGEs in individuals with obesity versus individuals without obesity were observed (WMD: −57.220, CI: −84.290, −30.149; p < 0.001). AGE type can be considered as a possible source of heterogeneity.

Conclusion

In the current meta-analysis, we observed an inverse association between circulating AGEs and body mass index among adults. Due to low study numbers, further studies are warranted to better elucidate these results.