Sugared Soda Consumption, Cell Aging Associated in New Study

<!DOCTYPE html> <html lang="en" dir="ltr" prefix="og: https://ogp.me/ns#"> <head> <title>Sugared Soda Consumption, Cell Aging Associated in New Study | UC San Francisco</title> <meta charset="utf-8" /> <meta name="description" content="Sugar-sweetened soda consumption might promote disease independently from its role in obesity, according to UC San Francisco researchers who found in a new study that drinking sugary drinks was associated with cell aging." /> <meta name="abstract" content="Sugar-sweetened soda consumption might promote disease independently from its role in obesity, according to UC San Francisco researchers who found in a new study that drinking sugary drinks was associated with cell aging." /> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2014/10/119431/sugared-soda-consumption-cell-aging-associated-new-study" /> <link rel="image_src" href="https://www.ucsf.edu/sites/default/files/field/image/news/cola-soda-glass-ice-drink.jpg" /> <meta property="og:site_name" content="Sugared Soda Consumption, Cell Aging Associated in New Study | UC San Francisco" /> <meta property="og:type" content="news" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2014/10/119431/sugared-soda-consumption-cell-aging-associated-new-study" /> <meta property="og:title" content="Sugared Soda Consumption, Cell Aging Associated in New Study" /> <meta property="og:description" content="Sugar-sweetened soda consumption might promote disease independently from its role in obesity, according to UC San Francisco researchers who found in a new study that drinking sugary drinks was associated with cell aging." /> <meta property="og:image" content="https://www.ucsf.edu/sites/default/files/field/image/news/cola-soda-glass-ice-drink.jpg" /> <meta property="og:image:secure_url" content="https://www.ucsf.edu/sites/default/files/field/image/news/cola-soda-glass-ice-drink.jpg" /> <meta property="og:image:type" content="image/jpeg" /> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image" /> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Sugar-sweetened soda consumption might promote disease independently from its role in obesity, according to UC San Francisco researchers who found in a new study that drinking sugary drinks was associated with cell aging." /> <meta name="twitter:site" content="@ucsf" /> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Sugared Soda Consumption, Cell Aging Associated in New Study" /> <meta name="twitter:creator" content="@ucsf" /> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://www.ucsf.edu/sites/default/files/field/image/news/cola-soda-glass-ice-drink.jpg" /> <meta name="twitter:image:alt" content="||||" /> <meta name="google-site-verification" content="rSaM6CprJQndLnVGSxg0oZ-oB85lajeVcjE1fQzK1-I" /> <meta name="Generator" content="Drupal 10 (https://www.drupal.org)" /> <meta name="MobileOptimized" content="width" /> <meta name="HandheldFriendly" content="true" /> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0" /> <script type="application/ld+json">{ "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "NewsArticle", "headline": "Sugared Soda Consumption, Cell Aging Associated in New Study", "name": "Sugared Soda Consumption, Cell Aging Associated in New Study | UC San Francisco", "description": "Sugar-sweetened soda consumption might promote disease independently from its role in obesity, according to UC San Francisco researchers who found in a new study that drinking sugary drinks was associated with cell aging.", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "representativeOfPage": "True", "url": "https://www.ucsf.edu/sites/default/files/field/image/news/cola-soda-glass-ice-drink.jpg", "width": "940", "height": "481" }, "datePublished": "2014-10-16T20:00:00-0700", "dateModified": "2014-10-16T20:00:00-0700", "author": { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://www.ucsf.edu/", "name": "University of California San Francisco", "url": "https://www.ucsf.edu/", "sameAs": "https://twitter.com/ucsf, https://www.facebook.com/ucsf, https://instagram.com/ucsf, https://www.youtube.com/ucsf, https://www.linkedin.com/school/ucsf", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "representativeOfPage": "True", "url": "https://www.ucsf.edu/themes/custom/ucsf/assets/images/ucsf_logo_navy_for_google_structured_data.png", "width": "360", "height": "174" } }, "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://www.ucsf.edu/", "name": "University of California San Francisco", "url": "https://www.ucsf.edu/", "sameAs": "https://twitter.com/ucsf, https://www.facebook.com/ucsf, https://instagram.com/ucsf, https://www.youtube.com/ucsf, https://www.linkedin.com/school/ucsf", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "representativeOfPage": "True", "url": "https://www.ucsf.edu/themes/custom/ucsf/assets/images/ucsf_logo_navy_for_google_structured_data.png", "width": "360", "height": "174" } }, "mainEntityOfPage": "https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2014/10/119431/sugared-soda-consumption-cell-aging-associated-new-study" } ] }</script> <meta itemprop="acquia_lift:content_title" content="Sugared Soda Consumption, Cell Aging Associated in New Study" /> <meta itemprop="acquia_lift:content_type" content="article" /> <meta itemprop="acquia_lift:page_type" content="node page" /> <meta itemprop="acquia_lift:language" content="en" /> <meta itemprop="acquia_lift:content_section" content="" /> <meta itemprop="acquia_lift:content_keywords" content="" /> <meta itemprop="acquia_lift:post_id" content="119431" /> <meta itemprop="acquia_lift:content_uuid" content="0095c54f-424e-45ca-ade7-faf186949558" /> <meta itemprop="acquia_lift:published_date" content="1413514800" /> <meta itemprop="acquia_lift:persona" content="" /> <meta itemprop="acquia_lift:engagement_score" content="1" /> <meta itemprop="acquia_lift:account_id" content="UCSF" /> <meta itemprop="acquia_lift:site_id" content="ucsfedu" /> <meta itemprop="acquia_lift:liftAssetsURL" content="https://builder.lift.acquia.com" /> <meta itemprop="acquia_lift:liftDecisionAPIURL" content="https://us.perz-api.cloudservices.acquia.io" /> <meta itemprop="acquia_lift:bootstrapMode" content="auto" /> <meta itemprop="acquia_lift:contentReplacementMode" content="trusted" /> <meta itemprop="acquia_lift:apiVersion" content="v3" /> <script src="https://builder.lift.acquia.com/lift.js" async></script> <link rel="icon" href="/themes/custom/ucsf/favicon.ico" type="image/vnd.microsoft.icon" /> <link rel="preload" href="/themes/custom/ucsf/fonts/GranjonLTW01-Roman.woff2" as="font" crossorigin /> <link rel="preload" href="/themes/custom/ucsf/fonts/HelveticaNeueLTW04-45Light.woff2" as="font" crossorigin /> <link rel="preload" href="/themes/custom/ucsf/fonts/HelveticaNeueLTW04-55Roman.woff2" as="font" crossorigin /> <link rel="preload" href="/themes/custom/ucsf/fonts/HelveticaNeueLTW04-56Italic.woff2" as="font" crossorigin /> <link rel="preload" href="/themes/custom/ucsf/fonts/HelveticaNeueLTW04-65Medium.woff2" as="font" crossorigin /> <link rel="preload" href="/themes/custom/ucsf/fonts/HelveticaNeueLTW06-75Bold.woff2" as="font" crossorigin /> <script src="/sites/default/files/google_tag/primary/google_tag.script.js?sroovw" defer></script> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/sites/default/files/css/css_1M6X16-toc9kPsDUV7f1fRiXXjEbDp_DX8NYskiSeKQ.css?delta=0&language=en&theme=ucsf&include=eJxlkVGOwzAIRC_krT_2QIjYNGGLTWRIu97T120qtdH-IOuJGUbjdKHMrg36tzOsss1cLd5oSlpWrVTdQkZHwU4tTrTglbVZME2MAmWoEYTrxeJ_dPKFCgXr5lTihEYhCZr1w7uQGc5kIWmjWLUVFP6jsCU7x1l0QgldN98mghlFqPUX_jLv49AczNHZnJPF3LYV5fQm4cp0s_icp6J5Ezog_MHf_RbJSFsdzpjpSOymasvOHgOwDWshcF3HCRjJGyWHhTA_8hzEeqUmuEImHzus9cPn1RknrbZjoRlTh6qZ4OMPdknl4WUoRtjSngcw6ygGK0p_FvCGd-RsvA8" /> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/sites/default/files/css/css_HlrA3pK-W4hWd7ST7VcobiV50kKNyE9S0guIM1BAVmw.css?delta=1&language=en&theme=ucsf&include=eJxlkVGOwzAIRC_krT_2QIjYNGGLTWRIu97T120qtdH-IOuJGUbjdKHMrg36tzOsss1cLd5oSlpWrVTdQkZHwU4tTrTglbVZME2MAmWoEYTrxeJ_dPKFCgXr5lTihEYhCZr1w7uQGc5kIWmjWLUVFP6jsCU7x1l0QgldN98mghlFqPUX_jLv49AczNHZnJPF3LYV5fQm4cp0s_icp6J5Ezog_MHf_RbJSFsdzpjpSOymasvOHgOwDWshcF3HCRjJGyWHhTA_8hzEeqUmuEImHzus9cPn1RknrbZjoRlTh6qZ4OMPdknl4WUoRtjSngcw6ygGK0p_FvCGd-RsvA8" /> <script>if (!window.customElements) { document.write(' <script type="text/javascript" src="/modules/custom/ckeditor_y3ti_plugins/bower_components/webcomponentsjs/custom-elements-es5-adapter.js"></script>  <script src="/modules/custom/ckeditor_y3ti_plugins/bower_components/webcomponentsjs/webcomponents-loader.js?sroovw"></script> <script src="/modules/custom/ucsf_adobe_analytics/js/ucsf-data-layer.js?sroovw" defer></script> <script src="/modules/custom/ucsf_adobe_analytics/js/ucsf-mag-marketing-data-layer.js?sroovw" defer></script> <script src="https://assets.adobedtm.com/db5f13cb240b/b1130ce1ceae/launch-db8f55f3e131.min.js" defer></script> </head> <body class="alias-news-2014-10-119431-sugared-soda-consumption-cell-aging-associated-new-study path-node page-node-type-article loading"> <a href="#main-content" class="visually-hidden focusable skip-link"> Skip to main content </a> <noscript><iframe src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-TSHCJ6" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe></noscript> <div class="dialog-off-canvas-main-canvas" data-off-canvas-main-canvas> <div class="page"> <header class="combined-header-region "> <section class="universal-header-region"> <div class="universal-header"> <p id="site-name" class="universal-header__title">University of California San Francisco</p> <a href="https://giving.ucsf.edu" class="universal-header__give">Give to UCSF</a> </div> </section> <section class="header-region"> <div class="header "> <figure class="header--logo logo"> <a class="logo__link" href="/" title="Home" rel="home"> <picture class="logo__image"> <img fetchpriority="high" class="logo__img" src="/themes/custom/ucsf/logo.svg" alt="Home" height="41" width="83"> </picture> </a> </figure> <div class="header--search menu-item"><a href="/search" role="button" class="nolink mobile-search-reveal "><span>Search</span></a> <div class="home-search__form "> <form action="/search" accept-charset="utf-8" method="get" class="search__form"> <label for="header-search" class="visually-hidden">Small screen search</label> <input type="text" name="search" id="header-search" size="32" class="home-search__form-input " value="" placeholder="Search people, places, ideas" /> <input type="submit" id="edit-submit-header" name="op" value="Search" class="home-search__form-submit "> <fieldset class="fieldset-reset"> <legend class="visually-hidden">Choose what type of search to perform</legend> <div class="search-filter"> <label for="allucsf"> <input id="allucsf" type="radio" name="filter" class="visually-hidden search-filter__radio" value="All" checked> <div class="search-filter__label"> <span class="search-filter__option"></span> <span>All UCSF</span> </div> </label> <label for="newscenter"> <input id="newscenter" type="radio" name="filter" class="visually-hidden search-filter__radio" value="News"> <div class="search-filter__label"> <span class="search-filter__option"></span> <span>UCSF News Center</span> </div> </label> </div> </fieldset> </form> </div> </div> <div class="slicknav-placeholder"></div> <nav aria-label="Main" id="block-ucsf-main-menu" class="block block-menu navigation menu--main main-menu--mobile main-nav"> <ul block="block-ucsf-main-menu" class="menu-parent-wrapper"> <li class="menu-item menu-item--expanded menu-top-level__item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/about" class="nolink" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/130301">About</a> <ul class="menu-child-wrapper"> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/about" title="UCSF Overview" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/130301">Overview</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/about/mission-and-values" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/406481">Mission & Values</a> </li> <li class="menu-item menu-item--expanded dropdown-menu__item" > <span class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link">Our Impact</span> <ul class="menu-child-wrapper"> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/about/achievements" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/413636">Achievements</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="/about/community-benefits" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link" data-drupal-link-system-path="taxonomy/term/629">UCSF in the Community</a> </li> </ul> <div class="universal-header__give-mobile"> <a class="universal-header__give" href="https://giving.ucsf.edu">Give to UCSF</a> </div> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/about/history-1" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/93484">History</a> </li> <li class="menu-item menu-item--expanded dropdown-menu__item" > <span class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link">Facts & Figures</span> <ul class="menu-child-wrapper"> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/about/ucsf-budget" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/403036">Budget</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/about/innovation" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/413691">Inventions & Entrepreneurship</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="/sites/default/files/2024-12/UCSF-General-Fact-Sheet-December-2024.pdf" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link">UCSF Fact Sheet</a> </li> </ul> <div class="universal-header__give-mobile"> <a class="universal-header__give" href="https://giving.ucsf.edu">Give to UCSF</a> </div> </li> <li class="menu-item menu-item--expanded dropdown-menu__item" > <span class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link">Administration</span> <ul class="menu-child-wrapper"> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://chancellor.ucsf.edu/leadership/chancellors-cabinet" target="_blank">Campus Leaders</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://chancellor.ucsf.edu/chancellor" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link">Chancellor</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://evcprovost.ucsf.edu/" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link">Executive Vice Chancellor & Provost</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="/cgr" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/93347">Community & Government Relations</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://diversity.ucsf.edu/" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link">Diversity & Outreach</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://fas.ucsf.edu/" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link">Finance & Administrative Services</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://legal.ucsf.edu/" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link">Legal Affairs</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/office-of-communications" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/423371">Office of Communications</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://giving.ucsf.edu/" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link">University Development & Alumni Relations</a> </li> </ul> <div class="universal-header__give-mobile"> <a class="universal-header__give" href="https://giving.ucsf.edu">Give to UCSF</a> </div> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/about/locations" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/96416">Locations</a> </li> </ul> <div class="universal-header__give-mobile"> <a class="universal-header__give" href="https://giving.ucsf.edu">Give to UCSF</a> </div> </li> <li class="menu-item menu-item--expanded menu-top-level__item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/patient-care" class="nolink" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/130356">Patient Care</a> <ul class="menu-child-wrapper"> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/patient-care" title="Patient Care Overview" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/130356">Overview</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://www.ucsfhealth.org/" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link">UCSF Health</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://www.ucsfbenioffchildrens.org/" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link">UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://www.ucsfdentalcenter.org/" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link">UCSF Dental Center</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://psych.ucsf.edu/lpphc" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link">Langley Porter Psychiatric Hospital and Clinics</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://www.ucsfhealth.org/clinics" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link">Specialty Clinics</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/patient-care/clinical-trials" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/93456">Clinical Trials</a> </li> </ul> <div class="universal-header__give-mobile"> <a class="universal-header__give" href="https://giving.ucsf.edu">Give to UCSF</a> </div> </li> <li class="menu-item menu-item--expanded menu-top-level__item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/research" class="nolink" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/130351">Research</a> <ul class="menu-child-wrapper"> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/research" title="Research Overview" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/130351">Overview</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/research/partnerships" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/130491">Partnerships</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://research.ucsf.edu" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link">Office of Research</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://innovation.ucsf.edu/" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link">Innovation Ventures</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://postdocs.ucsf.edu/" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link">Postdoctoral Scholars</a> </li> </ul> <div class="universal-header__give-mobile"> <a class="universal-header__give" href="https://giving.ucsf.edu">Give to UCSF</a> </div> </li> <li class="menu-item menu-item--expanded menu-top-level__item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/education" class="nolink" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/130311">Education</a> <ul class="menu-child-wrapper"> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/education" title="Education Overview" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/130311">Overview</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/education/admissions" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/409171">Admissions</a> </li> <li class="menu-item menu-item--expanded dropdown-menu__item" > <span class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link">Schools & Programs</span> <ul class="menu-child-wrapper"> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="http://dentistry.ucsf.edu/" title="School of Dentistry" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link">School of Dentistry</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://medschool.ucsf.edu" title="School of Medicine" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link">School of Medicine</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://pharmacy.ucsf.edu" title="School Pharmacy" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link">School of Pharmacy</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://nursing.ucsf.edu" title="School of Nursing" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link">School of Nursing</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://graduate.ucsf.edu" title="Graduate Education" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link">Graduate Division</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://globalhealthsciences.ucsf.edu" title="Global Health Sciences" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link">Global Health Sciences</a> </li> </ul> <div class="universal-header__give-mobile"> <a class="universal-header__give" href="https://giving.ucsf.edu">Give to UCSF</a> </div> </li> <li class="menu-item menu-item--expanded dropdown-menu__item" > <span class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link">Resources for Students</span> <ul class="menu-child-wrapper"> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://registrar.ucsf.edu/academic-calendar" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link">Academic Calendar</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://career.ucsf.edu/" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link">Career Center</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://finaid.ucsf.edu/" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link">Financial Aid</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://catalog.ucsf.edu/" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link">General Catalog</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://www.library.ucsf.edu/" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link">Library</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://registrar.ucsf.edu/" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link">Registrar</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://success.ucsf.edu/" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link">Student Success Guide</a> </li> </ul> <div class="universal-header__give-mobile"> <a class="universal-header__give" href="https://giving.ucsf.edu">Give to UCSF</a> </div> </li> </ul> <div class="universal-header__give-mobile"> <a class="universal-header__give" href="https://giving.ucsf.edu">Give to UCSF</a> </div> </li> <li class="menu-item menu-item--expanded menu-top-level__item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/news" class="nolink" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/413561">News & Media</a> <ul class="menu-child-wrapper"> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/news" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/413561">UCSF News Center</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://magazine.ucsf.edu/magazine" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/418411">UCSF Magazine</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="/campus-news" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link" data-drupal-link-system-path="taxonomy/term/1006">Campus News</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="/news/media-coverage" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link" data-drupal-link-system-path="taxonomy/term/413496">Media Coverage</a> </li> <li class="menu-item dropdown-menu__item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/news-media/journalists" class="main-navigation__link dropdown-menu__link" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/130226">Resources for Journalists</a> </li> </ul> <div class="universal-header__give-mobile"> <a class="universal-header__give" href="https://giving.ucsf.edu">Give to UCSF</a> </div> </li> <li class="menu-item search menu-top-level__item" > <a href="/search" class="main-navigation__link" data-drupal-link-system-path="search">Search</a> </li> </ul> <div class="universal-header__give-mobile"> <a class="universal-header__give" href="https://giving.ucsf.edu">Give to UCSF</a> </div> </nav> <nav aria-label="Main" id="block-ucsf-main-menu-desktop" class="block block-menu navigation menu--main main-nav"> <ul block="block-ucsf-main-menu-desktop" class="main-nav__menu"> <li class="menu-item menu-item--expanded main-nav__submenu-wrapper" > <button class="main-nav__toggle menu-item-about-menu" aria-controls="aria-about-menu" aria-expanded=false > About </button> <div id="aria-about-menu" aria-labelledby="aria-label-about-menu" class="main-submenu main-submenu--0" data-level="level-0"> <button class="menu-item-close" aria-controls="aria-about-menu" aria-expanded=false> Close About menu. </button> <div data-section="section-about-menu" class="main-submenu__label main-submenu__label--0"> <span id="aria-label-about-menu" class="main-submenu__label-text">About</span> </div> <ul class="main-submenu__menu"> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/about" title="UCSF Overview" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/130301"> <span>Overview</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/about/mission-and-values" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/406481"> <span>Mission & Values</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item menu-item--expanded" > <button class="main-submenu__toggle menu-item-our-impact" aria-controls="aria-our-impact" aria-expanded=false > Our Impact </button> <span class="fas fa-angle-right"></span> <div id="aria-our-impact" aria-labelledby="aria-label-our-impact" class="main-submenu main-submenu--1" data-level="level-1"> <div data-section="section-our-impact" class="main-submenu__label"> <span id="aria-label-our-impact" class="main-submenu__label-text">Our Impact</span> </div> <ul class="main-submenu__menu"> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/about/achievements" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/413636"> <span>Achievements</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="/about/community-benefits" data-drupal-link-system-path="taxonomy/term/629"> <span>UCSF in the Community</span> </a> </li> </ul> </div> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/about/history-1" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/93484"> <span>History</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item menu-item--expanded" > <button class="main-submenu__toggle menu-item-facts--figures" aria-controls="aria-facts--figures" aria-expanded=false > Facts & Figures </button> <span class="fas fa-angle-right"></span> <div id="aria-facts--figures" aria-labelledby="aria-label-facts--figures" class="main-submenu main-submenu--1" data-level="level-1"> <div data-section="section-facts--figures" class="main-submenu__label"> <span id="aria-label-facts--figures" class="main-submenu__label-text">Facts & Figures</span> </div> <ul class="main-submenu__menu"> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/about/ucsf-budget" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/403036"> <span>Budget</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/about/innovation" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/413691"> <span>Inventions & Entrepreneurship</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="/sites/default/files/2024-12/UCSF-General-Fact-Sheet-December-2024.pdf"> <span>UCSF Fact Sheet</span> </a> </li> </ul> </div> </li> <li class="menu-item menu-item--expanded" > <button class="main-submenu__toggle menu-item-administration" aria-controls="aria-administration" aria-expanded=false > Administration </button> <span class="fas fa-angle-right"></span> <div id="aria-administration" aria-labelledby="aria-label-administration" class="main-submenu main-submenu--1" data-level="level-1"> <div data-section="section-administration" class="main-submenu__label"> <span id="aria-label-administration" class="main-submenu__label-text">Administration</span> </div> <ul class="main-submenu__menu"> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://chancellor.ucsf.edu/leadership/chancellors-cabinet"> <span>Campus Leaders</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://chancellor.ucsf.edu/chancellor"> <span>Chancellor</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://evcprovost.ucsf.edu/"> <span>Executive Vice Chancellor & Provost</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="/cgr" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/93347"> <span>Community & Government Relations</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://diversity.ucsf.edu/"> <span>Diversity & Outreach</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://fas.ucsf.edu/"> <span>Finance & Administrative Services</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://legal.ucsf.edu/"> <span>Legal Affairs</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/office-of-communications" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/423371"> <span>Office of Communications</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://giving.ucsf.edu/"> <span>University Development & Alumni Relations</span> </a> </li> </ul> </div> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/about/locations" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/96416"> <span>Locations</span> </a> </li> </ul> </div> </li> <li class="menu-item menu-item--expanded main-nav__submenu-wrapper" > <button class="main-nav__toggle menu-item-patient-care" aria-controls="aria-patient-care" aria-expanded=false > Patient Care </button> <div id="aria-patient-care" aria-labelledby="aria-label-patient-care" class="main-submenu main-submenu--0" data-level="level-0"> <button class="menu-item-close" aria-controls="aria-patient-care" aria-expanded=false> Close Patient Care menu. </button> <div data-section="section-patient-care" class="main-submenu__label main-submenu__label--0"> <span id="aria-label-patient-care" class="main-submenu__label-text">Patient Care</span> </div> <ul class="main-submenu__menu"> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/patient-care" title="Patient Care Overview" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/130356"> <span>Overview</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://www.ucsfhealth.org/"> <span>UCSF Health</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://www.ucsfbenioffchildrens.org/"> <span>UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://www.ucsfdentalcenter.org/"> <span>UCSF Dental Center</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://psych.ucsf.edu/lpphc"> <span>Langley Porter Psychiatric Hospital and Clinics</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://www.ucsfhealth.org/clinics"> <span>Specialty Clinics</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/patient-care/clinical-trials" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/93456"> <span>Clinical Trials</span> </a> </li> </ul> </div> </li> <li class="menu-item menu-item--expanded main-nav__submenu-wrapper" > <button class="main-nav__toggle menu-item-research" aria-controls="aria-research" aria-expanded=false > Research </button> <div id="aria-research" aria-labelledby="aria-label-research" class="main-submenu main-submenu--0" data-level="level-0"> <button class="menu-item-close" aria-controls="aria-research" aria-expanded=false> Close Research menu. </button> <div data-section="section-research" class="main-submenu__label main-submenu__label--0"> <span id="aria-label-research" class="main-submenu__label-text">Research</span> </div> <ul class="main-submenu__menu"> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/research" title="Research Overview" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/130351"> <span>Overview</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/research/partnerships" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/130491"> <span>Partnerships</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://research.ucsf.edu"> <span>Office of Research</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://innovation.ucsf.edu/"> <span>Innovation Ventures</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://postdocs.ucsf.edu/"> <span>Postdoctoral Scholars</span> </a> </li> </ul> </div> </li> <li class="menu-item menu-item--expanded main-nav__submenu-wrapper" > <button class="main-nav__toggle menu-item-education" aria-controls="aria-education" aria-expanded=false > Education </button> <div id="aria-education" aria-labelledby="aria-label-education" class="main-submenu main-submenu--0" data-level="level-0"> <button class="menu-item-close" aria-controls="aria-education" aria-expanded=false> Close Education menu. </button> <div data-section="section-education" class="main-submenu__label main-submenu__label--0"> <span id="aria-label-education" class="main-submenu__label-text">Education</span> </div> <ul class="main-submenu__menu"> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/education" title="Education Overview" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/130311"> <span>Overview</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/education/admissions" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/409171"> <span>Admissions</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item menu-item--expanded" > <button class="main-submenu__toggle menu-item-schools--programs" aria-controls="aria-schools--programs" aria-expanded=false > Schools & Programs </button> <span class="fas fa-angle-right"></span> <div id="aria-schools--programs" aria-labelledby="aria-label-schools--programs" class="main-submenu main-submenu--1" data-level="level-1"> <div data-section="section-schools--programs" class="main-submenu__label"> <span id="aria-label-schools--programs" class="main-submenu__label-text">Schools & Programs</span> </div> <ul class="main-submenu__menu"> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="http://dentistry.ucsf.edu/" title="School of Dentistry"> <span>School of Dentistry</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://medschool.ucsf.edu" title="School of Medicine"> <span>School of Medicine</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://pharmacy.ucsf.edu" title="School Pharmacy"> <span>School of Pharmacy</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://nursing.ucsf.edu" title="School of Nursing"> <span>School of Nursing</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://graduate.ucsf.edu" title="Graduate Education"> <span>Graduate Division</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://globalhealthsciences.ucsf.edu" title="Global Health Sciences"> <span>Global Health Sciences</span> </a> </li> </ul> </div> </li> <li class="menu-item menu-item--expanded" > <button class="main-submenu__toggle menu-item-resources-for-students" aria-controls="aria-resources-for-students" aria-expanded=false > Resources for Students </button> <span class="fas fa-angle-right"></span> <div id="aria-resources-for-students" aria-labelledby="aria-label-resources-for-students" class="main-submenu main-submenu--1" data-level="level-1"> <div data-section="section-resources-for-students" class="main-submenu__label"> <span id="aria-label-resources-for-students" class="main-submenu__label-text">Resources for Students</span> </div> <ul class="main-submenu__menu"> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://registrar.ucsf.edu/academic-calendar"> <span>Academic Calendar</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://career.ucsf.edu/"> <span>Career Center</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://finaid.ucsf.edu/"> <span>Financial Aid</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://catalog.ucsf.edu/"> <span>General Catalog</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://www.library.ucsf.edu/"> <span>Library</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://registrar.ucsf.edu/"> <span>Registrar</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://success.ucsf.edu/"> <span>Student Success Guide</span> </a> </li> </ul> </div> </li> </ul> </div> </li> <li class="menu-item menu-item--expanded main-nav__submenu-wrapper" > <button class="main-nav__toggle menu-item-news--media" aria-controls="aria-news--media" aria-expanded=false > News & Media </button> <div id="aria-news--media" aria-labelledby="aria-label-news--media" class="main-submenu main-submenu--0" data-level="level-0"> <button class="menu-item-close" aria-controls="aria-news--media" aria-expanded=false> Close News & Media menu. </button> <div data-section="section-news--media" class="main-submenu__label main-submenu__label--0"> <span id="aria-label-news--media" class="main-submenu__label-text">News & Media</span> </div> <ul class="main-submenu__menu"> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/news" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/413561"> <span>UCSF News Center</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://magazine.ucsf.edu/magazine" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/418411"> <span>UCSF Magazine</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="/campus-news" data-drupal-link-system-path="taxonomy/term/1006"> <span>Campus News</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="/news/media-coverage" data-drupal-link-system-path="taxonomy/term/413496"> <span>Media Coverage</span> </a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/news-media/journalists" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/130226"> <span>Resources for Journalists</span> </a> </li> </ul> </div> </li> <li class="menu-item search" > <button class="main-nav__toggle menu-item-search-menu" aria-controls="aria-search-menu" aria-expanded=false > Open or Close Search Form </button> <div id="aria-search-menu" class="main-submenu main-nav__search"> <div class="home-search__form"> <form action="/search" accept-charset="utf-8" method="get" class="search__form"> <label for="header-desktop-search" class="visually-hidden">search</label> <input type="text" name="search" id="header-desktop-search" size="32" class="home-search__form-input" value="" placeholder="Search people, places, ideas" /> <fieldset class="fieldset-reset"> <legend class="visually-hidden">Choose what type of search to perform</legend> <div class="search-filter"> <label> <input type="radio" name="filter" class="visually-hidden search-filter__radio" value="All" checked> <div class="search-filter__label"> <span class="search-filter__option"></span> <span>All UCSF</span> </div> </label> <label> <input type="radio" name="filter" class="visually-hidden search-filter__radio" value="News"> <div class="search-filter__label"> <span class="search-filter__option"></span> <span>UCSF News Center</span> </div> </label> </div> </fieldset> <input type="submit" id="edit-submit" name="op" value="Search" class="home-search__form-submit"> </form> </div> </div> </li> </ul> </nav> </div> </section> </header> <div class="help"> <div class="region-highlighted"> <div data-drupal-messages-fallback class="hidden"></div> </div> </div> <div class="region-content"> <div id="block-ucsf-content" class="block block-system block-system-main-block"> <main class="main "> <a id="main-content" tabindex="-1"></a> <div data-history-node-id="119431" class="article-medium-banner"> </div> <div class="main-content narrow-page"> <header class="article-header "> <ul class="article-header__byline"> <li class="article-header__primary-area" data-primary-area="pa-research">Research</li> <li class="article-header__date"> <div class="field field-date-and-time field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2014-10-16T20:00:00Z" class="datetime"> October 16, 2014 </time> </div> </li> </ul> <h1><span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Sugared Soda Consumption, Cell Aging Associated in New Study</span> </h1> <h2 class="field field-sub-title field--type-text field--label-hidden article-header__subheading">UCSF Scientists Find Shorter Telomeres in Immune Cells of Soda Drinkers</h2> <p class="article-header__author"> By <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/bio/jeffrey-norris">Jeffrey Norris</a></p> </header> <ul class="article-meta-share"> <li><a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2014/10/119431/sugared-soda-consumption-cell-aging-associated-new-study" target="_blank" title="Share on Facebook"><span class="fab fa-facebook-square"></span> <span class="indent-text">Share on Facebook</span></a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.twitter.com/share?text=Sugared Soda Consumption, Cell Aging Associated in New Study&url=https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2014/10/119431/sugared-soda-consumption-cell-aging-associated-new-study" target="_blank" title="Share on Twitter"><span class="fa-brands fa-square-x-twitter"></span> <span class="indent-text">Share on Twitter</span></a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.reddit.com/submit?url=https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2014/10/119431/sugared-soda-consumption-cell-aging-associated-new-study&title=Sugared Soda Consumption, Cell Aging Associated in New Study" target="_blank" title="Share on Reddit"><span class="fab fa-reddit-square"></span> <span class="indent-text">Share on Reddit</span></a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#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" title="Email this article"><span class="fas fa-envelope-square"></span> <span class="indent-text">Email this article</span></a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" onclick="window.print();return false;" href="https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2014/10/119431/sugared-soda-consumption-cell-aging-associated-new-study" title="Print this article"><span class="fas fa-print"></span> <span class="indent-text">Print this article</span></a></li> </ul> <div class="page_narrow"><div class="ckimagebox" style="float: right; width: auto;"> <p><img alt="soda being poured into a glass" class="image-2014_inline_4-col" src="/sites/default/files/styles/2014_inline_4-col/public/fields/field_insert_file/news/cola-soda-glass-ice-drink.jpg?itok=VKv5Q58w" style="height:555px; width:370px"></p> </div> <p>Sugar-sweetened soda consumption might promote disease independently from its role in obesity, according to UC San Francisco researchers who found in a new study that drinking sugary drinks was associated with cell aging.</p> <p>The study revealed that telomeres – the protective units of DNA that cap the ends of chromosomes in cells – were shorter in the white blood cells of survey participants who reported drinking more soda. The findings were reported online Oct. 16 in the <a href="https://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/pdf/10.2105/AJPH.2014.302151"><em>American Journal of Public Health</em></a>.</p> <p>The length of telomeres within white blood cells – where it can most easily be measured – has previously been associated with human lifespan. Short telomeres also have been associated with the development of chronic diseases of aging, including heart disease, diabetes and some types of cancer.</p> <p>“Regular consumption of sugar-sweetened sodas might influence disease development, not only by straining the body’s metabolic control of sugars, but also through accelerated cellular aging of tissues,” said <a href="https://profiles.ucsf.edu/elissa.epel">Elissa Epel</a>, PhD, professor of psychiatry at UCSF and senior author of the study.</p> <p>“This is the first demonstration that soda is associated with telomere shortness,” Epel said. “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.”</p> <p>The authors cautioned that they only compared telomere length and sugar-sweetened soda consumption for each participant at a single time point, and that an association does not demonstrate causation. Epel is co-leading a new study in which participants will be tracked for weeks in real time to look for effects of sugar-sweetened soda consumption on aspects of cellular aging. Telomere shortening has previously been associated with oxidative damage to tissue, to inflammation, and to insulin resistance.</p> <p>Based on the way telomere length shortens on average with chronological age, the UCSF researchers calculated that daily consumption of a 20-ounce soda was equivalent to an average of 4.6 years of telomere shortening. This effect on telomere length is comparable to the effect of smoking, or to the effect of regular exercise in the opposite, anti-aging direction, according to UCSF postdoctoral fellow Cindy Leung, ScD, from the <a href="https://www.chc.ucsf.edu/">UCSF Center for Health and Community</a> and the lead author of the newly published study.</p> <div class="ckimagebox" style="float: left; width: auto;"> <p><img alt="Elissa Epel, PhD" class="image-2014_inline_2-col" src="/sites/default/files/styles/2014_inline_2-col/public/fields/field_insert_file/news/epel_elissa.jpg?itok=xbZtk7iT" style="height:215px; width:170px"></p> <p>Elissa Epel, PhD</p> </div> <div class="ckimagebox" style="float: left; width: auto;"> <p><img alt="Cindy Leung, ScD" class="image-2014_inline_2-col" src="/sites/default/files/styles/2014_inline_2-col/public/fields/field_insert_file/news/leung_cindy.jpg?itok=y8CLrjWc" style="height:213px; width:170px"></p> <p>Cindy Leung, ScD</p> </div> <p>The average sugar-sweetened soda consumption for all survey participants was 12 ounces. About 21 percent in this nationally representative sample reported drinking at least 20 ounces of sugar-sweetened soda a day.</p> <p>“It is critical to understand both dietary factors that may shorten telomeres, as well as dietary factors that may lengthen telomeres,” Leung said. “Here it appeared that the only beverage consumption that had a measurable negative association with telomere length was consumption of sugared soda.”</p> <p>The finding adds a new consideration to the list of links that has tied sugary beverages to obesity, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, and that has driven legislators and activists in several U.S. jurisdictions to champion ballot initiatives that would tax sugar-sweetened beverage purchases with the goal of discouraging consumption and improving public health.</p> <p>The UCSF researchers measured telomeres after obtaining stored DNA from 5,309 participants, ages 20 to 65, with no history of diabetes or cardiovascular disease, who had participated in the nation’s largest ongoing health survey, called the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, during the years 1999 through 2002. They found that the amount of sugar-sweetened soda a person consumed was associated with telomere length, as measured in the laboratory of Elizabeth Blackburn, PhD, professor of biochemistry at UCSF and a winner of the 2009 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for her telomere-related discoveries.</p> <p>Additional study authors include, from UCSF, <a href="https://profiles.ucsf.edu/nancy.adler">Nancy E. Adler</a>, PhD, professor of psychiatry and director of the Center for Health and Community, and <a href="https://profiles.ucsf.edu/jue.lin">Jue Lin</a>, PhD, an associate researcher with Blackburn’s lab; from UC Berkeley, Barbara A. Laraia, PhD, director of public health nutrition; from the University of Michigan, Belinda Needham, PhD, assistant professor of epidemiology; and from Stanford University, David H. Rehkopf, ScD, assistant professor of medicine.</p> <p>Major funding for the study was provided by the National Institutes of Health. Lin is a shareholder of Telomere Diagnostics, Inc.</p> <p>UCSF is the nation's leading university exclusively focused on health. Now celebrating the 150th anniversary of its founding as a medical college, UCSF is dedicated to transforming health worldwide through advanced biomedical research, graduate-level education in the life sciences and health professions, and excellence in patient care. It includes top-ranked graduate schools of dentistry, medicine, nursing and pharmacy; a graduate division with world-renowned programs in the biological sciences, a preeminent biomedical research enterprise and top-tier hospitals, UCSF Medical Center and UCSF Benioff Children's Hospitals.</p> </div> <div class="tags-menu-region"> <h3 class="tags-menu__title">Topics</h3> <ul class="tags-menu"> <li class="tags-menu__item"><a href="/topics/aging" hreflang="en">Aging</a></li> <li class="tags-menu__item"><a href="/topics/consumer-health" hreflang="en">Consumer Health</a></li> <li class="tags-menu__item"><a href="/topics/nutrition" hreflang="en">Nutrition</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </main> <aside class="recommended-articles "> <div class="recommended-articles__banner"> <h2 class="recommended-articles__title">Recommended Reading</h2> </div> <div class="views-element-container"><div class="element-swoosh view view-articles-by-term view-id-articles_by_term view-display-id-block_1 js-view-dom-id-dcbb4b73eac713756bff9bfb4e6441dcf9ccbd482ab936b7b468f79ccd4701c5"> <div class="view-content"> <div class="views-row"> <article data-history-node-id="429406" class="news-card" data-primary-area="pa-research"> <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2025/01/429406/how-ucsf-scientist-helped-ban-chemical-connected-parkinsons" class="news-card__link"> <figure> <picture class="field field-card-image field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> <source srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_card__image/public/2025-01/polluted-water-supply.jpg 1x, /sites/default/files/styles/news_card__image/public/2025-01/polluted-water-supply.jpg 2x" media="all and (max-width: 599px)" type="image/jpeg" width="600" height="338"/> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_card__image/public/2025-01/polluted-water-supply.jpg" width="600" height="338" alt="Contaminated water pours out of large drainage pipes." class="element-fade"/> </picture> </figure> <header class="news-card__copy"> <ul class="article-header__byline"> <li class="article-header__primary-area" data-primary-area="pa-research">Research</li> <li class="article-header__date"> <div class="field field-date-and-time field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2025-01-29T19:52:07Z" class="datetime"> Jan. 29, 2025 </time> </div> </li> </ul> <h2><span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">How a UCSF Scientist Helped Ban a Chemical Connected to Parkinson’s</span> </h2> </header> </a> </article> </div> <div class="views-row"> <article data-history-node-id="429366" class="news-card" data-primary-area="pa-research"> <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2025/01/429366/could-brain-aging-be-moms-fault" class="news-card__link"> <figure> <picture class="field field-card-image field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> <source srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_card__image/public/2025-01/neurons-expressing-x-chromosomes.jpg 1x, /sites/default/files/styles/news_card__image/public/2025-01/neurons-expressing-x-chromosomes.jpg 2x" media="all and (max-width: 599px)" type="image/jpeg" width="600" height="338"/> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_card__image/public/2025-01/neurons-expressing-x-chromosomes.jpg" width="600" height="338" alt="A microscopic image of neurons expressing the mother's X chromosomes in green, and the father’s X chromosomes in red." class="element-fade"/> </picture> </figure> <header class="news-card__copy"> <ul class="article-header__byline"> <li class="article-header__primary-area" data-primary-area="pa-research">Research</li> <li class="article-header__date"> <div class="field field-date-and-time field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2025-01-22T17:00:00Z" class="datetime"> Jan. 22, 2025 </time> </div> </li> </ul> <h2><span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Could Brain Aging Be Mom’s Fault?</span> </h2> </header> </a> </article> </div> <div class="views-row"> <article data-history-node-id="429336" class="news-card" data-primary-area="pa-patient-care"> <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2025/01/429336/im-stroke-doctor-heres-how-i-reduce-my-own-risk" class="news-card__link"> <figure> <picture class="field field-card-image field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> <source srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_card__image/public/2025-01/lauren-patrick-lifting-weights.jpg 1x, /sites/default/files/styles/news_card__image/public/2025-01/lauren-patrick-lifting-weights.jpg 2x" media="all and (max-width: 599px)" type="image/jpeg" width="600" height="338"/> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_card__image/public/2025-01/lauren-patrick-lifting-weights.jpg" width="600" height="338" alt="Neurologist Lauren Patrick smiles as she lifts weight at her home gym." class="element-fade"/> </picture> </figure> <header class="news-card__copy"> <ul class="article-header__byline"> <li class="article-header__primary-area" data-primary-area="pa-patient-care">Patient Care</li> <li class="article-header__date"> <div class="field field-date-and-time field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2025-01-15T23:41:00Z" class="datetime"> Jan. 15, 2025 </time> </div> </li> </ul> <h2><span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">I’m a Stroke Doctor. Here’s How I Reduce My Own Risk</span> </h2> </header> </a> </article> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="footer-ctas-wrapper"> <div class="field field-ankle-cta field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><h2>Are you a member of the news media?</h2> <p><a class="icon-media" data-entity-substitution="canonical" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="389ec7dc-e40f-4077-9e9c-884ccbea0dec" href="https://www.ucsf.edu/news-media/journalists" title="Resources for Journalists">Visit the Media Center</a></p> </div> </div> <div class="field__item"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><h2>Stay in touch with the latest updates.</h2> <p><a class="icon-media" data-entity-substitution="canonical" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="cab6a11f-4158-4d04-88f1-d511d9455ca2" href="https://www.ucsf.edu/subscribe-ucsf-news" title="Subscribe to UCSF News">Subscribe to UCSF News</a></p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </aside> </div> </div> <footer class="footer-region"> <div class="footer"> <div class="logo-follow"> <figure class="footer-logo"> <a class="footer-logo__link" href="/"> <div class="footer-logo__image"> <img class="footer-logo__img" src="/themes/custom/ucsf/images/footer-logo.svg" alt="UCSF Footer Logo" width="100" height="100"> </div> </a> </figure> <div class="follow"> <h2>Follow Us:</h2> <ul> <li class="follow-linkedin"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/school/ucsf"><span class="fab fa-linkedin-in"></span> <span class="indent-text">LinkedIn</span></a></li> <li class="follow-youtube"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/ucsf"><span class="fab fa-youtube"></span> <span class="indent-text">YouTube</span></a></li> <li class="follow-instagram"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/ucsf"><span class="fab fa-instagram"></span> <span class="indent-text">Instagram</span></a></li> <li class="follow-facebook"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ucsf"><span class="fab fa-facebook-f"></span> <span class="indent-text">Facebook</span></a></li> <li class="follow-twitter"><a href="https://www.twitter.com/ucsf"><span class="fab fa-x-twitter"></span> <span class="indent-text">Twitter</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <nav aria-label="Main" id="block-ucsf-footer" class="block block-menu navigation menu--footer"> <ul block="block-ucsf-footer" class="menu"> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/cgr/advocacy" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/408041">Become a UCSF Advocate</a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://ucsfhealth.samaritan.com">Volunteer at UCSF Medical Center</a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://together.ucsf.edu/">Start a Fundraiser</a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/subscribe-ucsf-news" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/403161">Subscribe to UCSF News</a> </li> </ul> </nav> <nav aria-label="Main" id="block-footer2resources" class="block block-menu navigation menu--footer2"> <ul block="block-footer2resources" class="menu"> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://websites.ucsf.edu/azlist">A to Z Website List</a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/accessibility-resources" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/421786">Accessibility Resources</a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://policies.ucsf.edu/">Administrative Policies</a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://identity.ucsf.edu/">Brand Guidelines</a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://campuslifeserviceshome.ucsf.edu/">Campus Life Services</a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/about/locations" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/96416">Campus Maps</a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/about/working-ucsf" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/409191">Careers at UCSF</a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://chancellor.ucsf.edu/">Chancellor</a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://diversity.ucsf.edu/">Diversity & Outreach</a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://police.ucsf.edu/emergency-preparedness">Emergency Preparedness</a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://hr.ucsf.edu">Human Resources</a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://www.library.ucsf.edu/">Library</a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://directory.ucsf.edu/">People Directory</a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://police.ucsf.edu/">Police</a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://campuslifeservices.ucsf.edu/transportation/services/shuttles/">Shuttle Schedule</a> </li> <li class="menu-item" > <a href="https://profiles.ucsf.edu">UCSF Profiles</a> </li> </ul> </nav> <div id="block-popwiseblock" class="block block-block-content block-block-content6efc2b33-6a3d-487d-8945-4c884ad0df82"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><script data-cfasync="false" src="/cdn-cgi/scripts/5c5dd728/cloudflare-static/email-decode.min.js"></script><script type="text/javascript" data-cfasync="false"> (function(W,i,s,e,P,o,p){W['WisePopsObject']=P;W[P]=W[P]||function(){ (W[P].q=W[P].q||[]).push(arguments)},W[P].l=1*new Date();o=i.createElement(s), p=i.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];o.async=1;o.src=e;p.parentNode.insertBefore(o,p) })(window,document,'script','//loader.wisepops.com/get-loader.js?v=1&site=dQ5haeqNrm','wisepops'); </script></div> </div> </div> <div class="footer-bottom"> <p>© 2025 The Regents of The University of California</p> <ul class="text-align: right;"> <li><a href="/sitemap.xml" style="left: -9999px; position:absolute;" tabindex="-1" aria-hidden="true">Sitemap</a></li> <li><a href="/sitemap">Site Map</a></li> <li><a href="/terms-of-use">Terms of Use</a></li> <li><a href="/feedback">Report an issue with UCSF.edu website</a></li> </ul> </div> </footer> </div> </div> <script>window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; window.dataLayer.push({"drupalLanguage":"en","drupalCountry":"US","siteName":"UC San Francisco","entityCreated":"1413514800","entityLangcode":"en","entityStatus":"1","entityUid":"511","entityUuid":"0095c54f-424e-45ca-ade7-faf186949558","entityVid":"618171","entityName":"melanie.williams","entityType":"node","entityBundle":"article","entityId":"119431","entityTitle":"Sugared Soda Consumption, Cell Aging Associated in New Study","entityTaxonomy":{"areas":{"726":"Research"},"article_type":{"714":"Press Release"},"people":{"180":"Elissa Epel"},"topics":{"756":"Aging","630":"Consumer Health","669":"Nutrition"}},"userUid":0});</script>  <link name="polymer_platform" href="/modules/custom/ckeditor_y3ti_plugins/elements/build.html" rel="import" /> <script type="application/json" data-drupal-selector="drupal-settings-json">{"path":{"baseUrl":"\/","pathPrefix":"","currentPath":"node\/119431","currentPathIsAdmin":false,"isFront":false,"currentLanguage":"en"},"pluralDelimiter":"\u0003","suppressDeprecationErrors":true,"ajaxPageState":{"libraries":"eJxlkFtywzAIRTekRh9dkAZLRKZBwiOwU3X1Ue1kkrQ_DHMujwvxgolMWuifRmHhNVNVf8UpSlmkYjV1kUG1-wkUH3lBVcg4NGnoq7QCTD_oEhgwdGx-whk2kqZOJRJwKGMRBKZ6Uf8fnWzGgk4NjNQoqk9tXYBPT-K0q2E5fKxRzx559FQLZ0h_iGzYGJaQ0DAaSX2X9Sqi88EyywR85IwZYg9VEoaXB-zabwjQhhPGYLIMR6OmtTE_zAiJan4pvF9IUeqjv9IwpcCK0OKxPECSCQNU4L4f_YRuI7yq3-MJvuD7DRRJK6Prsto6BmRgxtbvt3yo9fHUfAMiObwP","theme":"ucsf","theme_token":null},"ajaxTrustedUrl":[],"dataLayer":{"defaultLang":"en","languages":{"en":{"id":"en","name":"English","direction":"ltr","weight":0}}},"statistics":{"data":{"nid":"119431"},"url":"\/core\/modules\/statistics\/statistics.php"},"views":{"ajax_path":"\/views\/ajax","ajaxViews":{"views_dom_id:dcbb4b73eac713756bff9bfb4e6441dcf9ccbd482ab936b7b468f79ccd4701c5":{"view_name":"articles_by_term","view_display_id":"block_1","view_args":"756+630+669\/119431","view_path":"\/node\/119431","view_base_path":null,"view_dom_id":"dcbb4b73eac713756bff9bfb4e6441dcf9ccbd482ab936b7b468f79ccd4701c5","pager_element":0}}},"user":{"uid":0,"permissionsHash":"0c730a228c7c7fb09ef69cc49872503ed212ec963125de64d7bd9d3929d14bf0"}}</script> <script src="/sites/default/files/js/js_ChBLFJmLnJSY1j9tLrWbRTmJImKSKrgUmJ7S1dxzYdk.js?scope=footer&delta=0&language=en&theme=ucsf&include=eJxlkVGOwzAIRC_krT_2QIjYNGGLTWRIu97T120qtdH-IOuJGUbjdKHMrg36tzOsss1cLd5oSlpWrVTdQkZHwU4tTrTglbVZME2MAmWoEYTrxeJ_dPKFCgXr5lTihEYhCZr1w7uQGc5kIWmjWLUVFP6jsCU7x1l0QgldN98mghlFqPUX_jLv49AczNHZnJPF3LYV5fQm4cp0s_icp6J5Ezog_MHf_RbJSFsdzpjpSOymasvOHgOwDWshcF3HCRjJGyWHhTA_8hzEeqUmuEImHzus9cPn1RknrbZjoRlTh6qZ4OMPdknl4WUoRtjSngcw6ygGK0p_FvCGd-RsvA8"></script> <script src="https://kit.fontawesome.com/0047baebb3.js" crossorigin="anonymous"></script> <script src="/sites/default/files/js/js_DGHzI4C8s2m5srCR8I7slhej7nbVRHo8VPE5sxHlbEQ.js?scope=footer&delta=2&language=en&theme=ucsf&include=eJxlkVGOwzAIRC_krT_2QIjYNGGLTWRIu97T120qtdH-IOuJGUbjdKHMrg36tzOsss1cLd5oSlpWrVTdQkZHwU4tTrTglbVZME2MAmWoEYTrxeJ_dPKFCgXr5lTihEYhCZr1w7uQGc5kIWmjWLUVFP6jsCU7x1l0QgldN98mghlFqPUX_jLv49AczNHZnJPF3LYV5fQm4cp0s_icp6J5Ezog_MHf_RbJSFsdzpjpSOymasvOHgOwDWshcF3HCRjJGyWHhTA_8hzEeqUmuEImHzus9cPn1RknrbZjoRlTh6qZ4OMPdknl4WUoRtjSngcw6ygGK0p_FvCGd-RsvA8"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> /*<![CDATA[*/ (function() { var sz = document.createElement('script'); sz.type = 'text/javascript'; sz.async = true; sz.src = '//siteimproveanalytics.com/js/siteanalyze_8343.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(sz, s); })(); /*]]>*/ </script> </body> </html>

CINXE.COM

Sugared Soda Consumption, Cell Aging Associated in New Study | UC San Francisco