Aging is accompanied by increased oxidative stress (OS) and accumulation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs). AGE formation in food is temperature-regulated , and ingestion of nutrients prepared with excess heat promotes AGE formation , OS , and cardiovascular disease in mice. We hypothesized that sustained exposure to the high levels of pro-oxidant AGEs in normal diets (Reg AGE ) contributes to aging via an increased AGE load , which causes AGER1 dysregulation and depletion of antioxidant capacity , and that an isocaloric , but AGErestricted (by 50%) diet (Low AGE ) , would decrease these abnormalities. C57BL6 male mice with a lifelong exposure to a Low AGE diet had higher than baseline levels of tissue AGER1 and glutathione/ oxidized glutathione and reduced plasma 8-isoprostanes and tissue RAGE and p66 shc levels compared with mice pair-fed the regular (Reg AGE ) diet. This was associated with a reduction in systemic AGE accumulation and amelioration of insulin resistance , albuminuria , and glomerulosclerosis. Moreover , lifespan was extended in Low AGE mice , compared with Reg AGE mice. Thus , OS-dependent metabolic and end organ dysfunction of aging may result from life-long exposure to high levels of glycoxidants that exceed AGER1 and anti-oxidant reserve capacity. A reduced AGE diet preserved these innate defenses , resulting in decreased tissue damage and a longer lifespan in mice. Environmental and genetic factors including elevated oxidant stress (OS), cumulative DNA damage, altered gene expression, telomere shortening, and energy utilization are among the postulated mechanisms of senescence and aging in organisms from yeast to mammals.