Glycation-lowering compounds inhibit ghrelin signaling to reduce food intake, lower insulin resistance, and extend lifespan

Non-enzymatic reactions in glycolysis lead to the accumulation of methylglyoxal (MGO), a reactive precursor to advanced glycation end-products (AGEs), which has been hypothesized to drive obesity, diabetes and aging-associated pathologies. A combination of nicotinamide, α-lipoic acid, thiamine, pyridoxamine, and piperine (Gly-Low) lowered deleterious effects of glycation by reducing MGO and MGO-derived AGE, MG-H1, in mice. Gly-Low supplementation in the diet reduced food consumption, decreased body weight, improved insulin sensitivity, and increased survival in leptin receptor-deficient (Lepr) and wild-type C57B6/J mice. Transcriptional, protein, and functional analyses demonstrated that Gly-Low inhibited appetite-stimulating ghrelin signaling and enhanced the appetite-satiating mTOR pathways within the hypothalamus. Consistent with these molecular findings, Gly-Low inhibited ghrelin-mediated hunger responses. When administered as a late-life intervention, Gly-Low slowed hypothalamic aging signatures, improved glucose homeostasis and motor coordination, and increased lifespan, suggesting its potential benefits in ameliorating age-associated decline.