In this episode of College of Glycation, Dr. Paul Reynolds—Professor of Cell Biology and Physiology—explores how toxic advanced glycation end-products (TAGEs) compromise gut integrity at the cellular level. Drawing on new research from Takeda et al. (2025), Dr. Reynolds explains how these sugar-derived toxins disrupt tight junction proteins like ZO-1 and claudin-7, leading to increased intestinal permeability, oxidative stress, and inflammation. The result? A weakened gut barrier that fuels chronic disease, from diabetes to neuroinflammation.

Through clear scientific storytelling, Dr. Reynolds connects molecular biochemistry to real-world health—showing how diet, glucose overload, and oxidative stress silently erode intestinal resilience. He also highlights emerging strategies to protect the gut, including antioxidant defense, AGE inhibitors like aminoguanidine, and lifestyle approaches that preserve the body’s most important barrier.