In this episode of the College of Glycation, Professor Paul Reynolds expands the conversation beyond sugar into the parallel chemistry of lipoxidation. Polyunsaturated fats in cell membranes undergo radical chain peroxidation, breaking into highly reactive aldehydes such as 4-hydroxynonenal, malondialdehyde, and acrolein. These form permanent advanced lipoxidation end-products (ALEs) on proteins — nearly identical in mechanism and consequence to advanced glycation end-products. Landmark experiments showed that carboxymethyllysine, one of the most measured “AGEs,” readily forms from oxidized polyunsaturated fats even without any sugar present. ALEs also bind RAGE and drive the same NF-κB inflammatory pathway, contributing to atherosclerotic plaque, fatty liver, neurodegeneration, and chronic lung disease.Reynolds emphasizes that glycation was never only a sugar story; it is a story of reactive carbonyls arriving from two major inputs. Clearance capacity varies between people (notably with the common ALDH2 variant), and practical protection includes choosing more stable fats for high-heat cooking, protecting polyunsaturated oils from heat, light, and oxygen, supporting carbonyl scavengers such as carnosine, and matching vitamin E intake to polyunsaturated fat load. If you have been managing metabolic health by watching glucose alone, this episode shows why you need to widen the frame to include oxidant exposures, fat quality, and carbonyl clearance.Paul’s favorite yerba mate: https://unicity.link/121f260bfe Yerbe mate with a special formulated Balance fiber: https://ufeelgreat.com/c/PaulReynolds Full Metabolic System storefront: https://shop.unicity.com/paulreynolds Paul’s favorite source for clean, earth-sourced essentials such as salt, electrolytes, hydration, pre-workout and more. Go to https://redmond.life and use PAULSALT for 15% discount. Paul’s favorite exogenous ketones: A high-quality option is the NSF-certified goBHB from Clean Form Nutrition, where you can use the code Paul10 for a 10% discount: https://cleanformnutrition.com/products/go-bhb Paul’s favorite allulose source: https://rxsugar.com (discount: PAUL20) Paul’s favorite health check-up for men or women: https://blokes.co/DRPAUL (discount: DRPAUL for 50% off of labs and smart supplements and 15% off all other products)