| The purpose of this dissertation is to explore factors which may affect the serum soluble receptor for advanced glycation end products (sRAGE) and to determine whether macronutrient diet composition impacts inflammation and levels of serum n-epsilon-carboxymethyl-lysine (CML), a measure of advanced glycation endproducts.;In study I, we tested the hypothesis that sRAGE is correlated to adiposity in a young, ethnically-diverse population. Seventy-two healthy adult participants were recruited for the study and anthropometric measurements were collected. Sera from all participants were analyzed for sRAGE and CML. In addition, in a subgroup of participants (n=34), serum levels of adiponectin, total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein, and triacylglycerol were determined. sRAGE was inversely correlated with weight (-0.364; p=0.002), waist circumference (-0.334; p=0.004), and BMI (-0.364; p= 0.002). High molecular adiponectin was positively correlated to sRAGE (0.416; p=0.02). This is the first time these associations have been found in a young, ethnically-diverse population.;In study II, we hypothesized that dietary fat content influenced serum sRAGE, CML, and markers of inflammation. Eighteen subjects participated in a feeding study of two diets, one high in fat and the other low in fat, both high in dietary AGEs. Participants were provided breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks for a single day. Baseline and postprandial sera were analyzed for CML, sRAGE, adiponectin and C-reactive protein (CRP). Compared to high-fat diet, low-fat diet decreased serum CML. |
