Fructose also easily links to proteins such as collagen, the main connective tissue in the skin and arteries, and to fats. When linking to collagen, fructose creates toxic advanced glycation end products, or AGEs for short. (“Glycation” refers to the linking of sugar molecules with proteins, DNA, and fats.) These are aptly named, as these end products play a role in the aging process and create additional oxidative stress in the body.4 AGEs not only are a major cause of skin wrinkles, but also age arteries and can lead to atherosclerosis.
