Formation of Advanced Glycation End Products Precursors in Apricots: A Comprehensive Market-Based Study

Abstract

Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are a group of complex products formed by non-enzymatic glycation of biological macromolecules and are considered undesirable compounds, with glyoxal (GO) and methylglyoxal (MGO) acting as their precursors. This study investigated the relationship between AGE precursors and sugar composition in sun-dried and sulfured-dried apricots obtained from marketplaces in various regions throughout Istanbul (Turkey). A total of 54 samples (27 sun-dried, 27 sulfured-dried) were analysed using high-performance liquid chromatography to determine GO, MGO, glucose, fructose, and saccharose contents. The levels of GO and MGO in sun-dried apricots ranged from 0.040 mg kg(-1) to 1.595 mg kg(-1) and from 0.488 mg kg(-1) to 23.701 mg kg(-1), respectively. GO and MGO content of sulfured-dried apricots ranged from 0.030 mg kg(-1) to 1.176 mg kg(-1) and 14.950 mg kg(-1) to 141.327 mg kg(-1), respectively. On average, MGO content in sulfured-dried apricots was approximately five times higher than in sundried samples, indicating a notable difference. Variations in sugar content, processing temperature, storage time, sulfur content, and antioxidant activity may influence GO and MGO formation in dried apricots.