Soda may be contributing to the aging process, playing a role in encouraging cell death, according to a new study from researchers at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). This new study suggested regular consumption of sugary sodas can decrease lifespan by up to 4.6 years.
Telomeres, protective caps of DNA that cover chromosomes within cells, were found to be shorter among those who regularly drink soda than those who do not. Maintenance of these structures is an essential function in healthy cells.
Researchers examined records and DNA samples of 5,309 American adults between the ages of 20 and 65, attempting to find any correlation between consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and telomere length. None of the subjects examined had ever been diagnosed with any form of diabetes. Investigators found subjects who regularly drank carbonated beverages showed shorter chains than normal, while non-carbonated SSB's had no significant effect. Telomere length was slightly longer than normal among people who drank fruit juice, the study revealed.
"This is the first demonstration that soda is associated with telomere shortness. This finding held regardless of age, race, income and education level. Telomere shortening starts long before disease onset. Further, although we only studied adults here, it is possible that soda consumption is associated with telomere shortening in children, as well," Elissa Epel, professor of psychiatry at USF and lead author of a journal article announcing the results of the study, said.
Shorter telomere lengths have been associated with increased risk for heart disease, some forms of cancer, and diabetes, as well as insulin resistance.
Soda consumption totaling 20 ounces a day or more was found to shorten telomere length at the same rate as smoking tobacco. More than one in five people in the investigation reported consuming this much soda or more on a regular basis. Regular exercise lengthens the caps by roughly the same amount, according to the study.
Researchers point out that the study looked at soda consumption and telomere length at a single point in life, and that a correlation does not imply causation. A new study headed by Epel will examine aging in the body cells of volunteers over the course of several weeks, as the experimental group consumes sugary carbonated beverages.
Sugar-sweetened beverages have been shown to play a role in obesity, cardiovascular disease, and type 2 diabetes. These health risks have prompted several local governments to pass measures discouraging consumption of the beverages, especially among young people.
Study of the role sugary sodas play in the aging process was detailed in the American Journal of Public Health.
