BACKGROUND: Advanced glycation end products (AGE) have been reported to contribute to aging and cataract formation in the lens. In the present study, AGE immunoreactivity in human serum samples of normal senile subjects (n=31), senile diabetic patients without cataract (n=33), senile diabetic patients with cataract (n=30), senile nondiabetic with cataract (n=30), and normal young subjects (n=31) was investigated. METHODS: A noncompetitive ELISA with polyclonal anti-AGE antibody was performed. The patients were selected on clinical grounds from Eye Ward, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi, Pakistan. RESULTS: Fasting blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, and serum fructosamine were estimated. Fasting blood glucose, HbA(1C), and serum fructosamine levels were significantly (P<.001) increased in senile diabetic patients with and without cataract as compared to nondiabetic senile patients with cataract and senile control subjects. However, the serum AGEs were found to be significantly (P<.001) increased in senile diabetic patients with cataract and senile nondiabetic patients with cataract followed by the diabetic patients without cataract as compared to senile control and young control subjects. In contrast to all four senile groups, the serum AGEs were significantly (P<.001) lower in young control subjects. CONCLUSIONS: The AGE distribution in the senile groups corroborates the hypothesis that the advanced glycation process might have a role in cataract formation, which in diabetic patients occurs vigorously as compared with nondiabetic cataract patients.