I. BIRLOUEZ-ARAGON*, F. J. TESSIER**

*Institut National Agronomique Paris-Grignon, Laboratoire de Chimie Analytique, 16 rue Claude Bernard, 75231 PARIS Cedex 05, France. **Department of Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA. Correspondence to Ines Birlouez-Aragon: Tel 01-44-58-16-49 ; e-mail : Birlouez@inapg.inra.fr

Abstract: In this review we describe how tissues are protected against free radicals and we detail the mechanisms by which the insufficient reduction of ascorbate is involved in glycation and oxidation processes on proteins.

Keywords: Elderly, nutrition, antioxidant, vitamin C, glycoxidation, aging, degenerative pathologies.