Vitamins and Analgesics in the Prevention of Collagen Ageing

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Abstract
The ageing of connective tissues involves modifications of collagen, which are currently generating much interest amongst protein researchers. Protein glycation, a non-enzymic reaction involving sugar, appears to play a role in the evolution of age-related physical changes and diabetic complications—retinopathy, neuropathy, renal failure and atherosclerosis. Our studies show that the glycation of human corneal and scleral collagen produces increases in the collagen intermolecular spacing—these increases are similar to those we previously reported on the ageing of collagen in these tissues. The present investigation employs X-ray diffraction to look at the structural effects of various substances that are believed in inhibit protein glycation. Aspirin-like compounds and certain vitamins successfully prevented the sugar-induced molecular changes from occurring in corneal and scleral collagen, suggesting that such compounds could have a useful role in this aspect of ageing.

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