Abstract: Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are a series of stable compounds generated by nonenzymatic interactions between reducing sugars and proteins, lipids or nucleic acids. It has been found that excessive accumulation of AGEs in the body easily leads to occurrence of various chronic diseases such as diabetes, atherosclerosis, Alzheimer's diseases and cardiovascular diseases. It is of great significance to find suitable methods to suppress the AGEs formation for ensuring human health. The intent of this review is to summarize the classification of AGEs, formation process, pathogenic mechanism, and metabolic pathway of AGEs in vivo, with focus on the recent progress on the inhibition means and mechanism of AGEs, so as to provide a theoretical basis for controlling the formation of AGEs.

Key words: advanced glycation end products, formation, pathogenic mechanism, metabolism, inhibition