**3.1 AGEs in insulin producing and acting tissues**

Importantly, among the multiple targets of bioactive AGEs are also such diverse tissues as the pancreatic islet 34, 35, the adipose tissue (adipocyte) 36 and skeletal muscle cells 37, major tissues involved in insulin secretion and its actions. Pharmacological inhibition of glycoxidation protects against damage to either tissue 33, 38. AGEs are shown to inhibit glucose-stimulated insulin secretion from islet through iNOS-dependent nitric oxide production 35. Reduced intake of dietary AGEs has also been shown to decrease the incidence of type 1 diabetes in NOD mice 39 as well as the formation of atherosclerotic lesions in diabetic apolipoprotein E-deficient mice 40.
