Does sugar promote the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines? True or false?

The appearance of wrinkles and fine lines is inevitable over time. Besides the natural aging of skin cells and structural proteins, several factors can accelerate this phenomenon, including oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, and glycation. It is through these three processes that sugar acts at the cellular level and leads to an early onset of various signs of aging.

Through several mechanisms, sugar can promote wrinkles and fine lines.

• Sugar can be a source of oxidative stress.

  The skin is daily subjected to numerous external aggressions that can cause oxidative stress at the cellular level. Among the most common factors are the sun's UV rays, pollution, and tobacco. As a reminder, oxidative stress refers to a situation in which the free radicals, unstable and highly reactive molecules, are in excess and can no longer be effectively neutralized by the body's antioxidant defense systems. These free radicals pose a threat to the skin and the entire body, as they can alter cell membranes, lipids, and structural proteins such as collagen and elastin. This oxidation process leads to a degradation of the skin structure, impairing the skin's suppleness and elasticity while accelerating the formation of wrinkles.

  Among the sugars commonly found in our diet, glucose, fructose, and galactose can be the source of oxidative stress. The mechanism of action is believed to be linked to the activation of the mitochondrial oxidative metabolism of glucose, leading to the generation of free radicals. These would then be released under the action of enzymes such as lipoxygenases, cyclooxygenases, and peroxidases, which are part of the mitochondrial respiratory chain. The mechanisms triggering oxidative stress would be similar for fructose and galactose.

• Sugar triggers a phenomenon known as glycation.

  It has long been known that exposure to glucose affects how the body ages. The process primarily responsible for this phenomenon is called glycation. This reaction, promoted by oxidative stress, results from the accumulation of sugar around proteins through cross-linking reactions forming strong bonds. The collagen and elastin in the skin are not spared.

  Once sugar has entered the bloodstream, it attaches to the amino groups of protein tissue and reorganizes their structure into advanced glycation end products. The sugar and proteins then form a cluster that hardens and breaks down over time. The degradation of collagen and elastin molecules promotes the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. Glycation is also responsible for the apoptosis of fibroblasts, which creates a state of cellular senescence. This process also increases the release of metalloproteinases MMP-1, involved in the proteolytic degradation of collagen.

• Sugar has a pro-inflammatory effect.

  Finally, several studies have shown a link between sugar consumption and increased inflammation in cells. The previously mentioned advanced glycation end products can activate the nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-kB), which in turn is responsible for activating inflammatory genes, notably coding for TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6. These pro-inflammatory cytokines promote the degradation of collagen and elastin via the activation of matrix metalloproteinases MMP-1, MMP-3, and MMP-9, consequently leading to a loss of skin firmness and elasticity. Concurrently, these compounds reduce the production of IGF-1, a hormone essential for maintaining the dermis. This imbalance leads to skin atrophy, slows tissue regeneration, and promotes the development of wrinkles and fine lines.

  Good to Know : The glycemic index is a measure of how quickly blood sugar levels rise after eating. Foods with a high glycemic index break down quickly into sugars, leading to a sharp increase in blood sugar, while foods with a low glycemic index break down slowly, resulting in a prolonged release. Foods with a high glycemic index are more likely to accelerate skin sagging than those with a lower glycemic index.

Therefore, it is not a myth: sugar accelerates the formation of wrinkles and fine lines.