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Of all the food groups studied, only processed meat intake was significantly associated with telomere length after multivariable adjustment, including adjustment for other food groups. Neither the dietary pattern for fats and processed meat nor the dietary pattern for whole grains and fruit was significantly associated with telomere length after adjustment for demographic and lifestyle factors. Additional adjustment for BMI did not change these results. Adjustment for gross family income or more refined categories of educational status [proxies for socioeconomic status (SES)] also did not change these results.

 

Conclusions: Processed meat intake showed an expected inverse association with telomere length, but other diet features did not show their expected associations.

Of all the food groups studied, only processed meat intake was significantly associated with telomere length after multivariable adjustment, including adjustment for other food groups. Neither the dietary pattern for fats and processed meat nor the dietary pattern for whole grains and fruit was significantly associated with telomere length after adjustment for demographic and lifestyle factors. Additional adjustment for BMI did not change these results. Adjustment for gross family income or more refined categories of educational status [proxies for socioeconomic status (SES)] also did not change these results.

Conclusions: Processed meat intake showed an expected inverse association with telomere length, but other diet features did not show their expected associations.

A review from 2010 listed 10 studies of telomere length and early death, of which five found no association. "Different groups also tried and failed to link the length of telomeres with patients’ blood pressure, lung function, and grip strength (an indicator of overall health). More research led to more confusion as some studies did find that shorter telomeres predicted cognitive impairment—cellular aging might predispose to dementia, for example but other analyses found the opposite."

Conclusions: Processed meat intake showed an expected inverse association with telomere length, but other diet features did not show their expected associations.

A 2010 review of 10 studies of telomere length and early death showed that five studies found no relationship between shortened telomeres and increased risk of mortality. "Different groups also tried and failed to link the length of telomeres with patients’ blood pressure, lung function, and grip strength (an indicator of overall health). More research led to more confusion as some studies did find that shorter telomeres predicted cognitive impairment—cellular aging might predispose to dementia, for example but other analyses found the opposite."

1. A study researching dietary patterns, food groups, and telomere length in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) in 2008 found no connection between sugar-sweetened soda and telomere length (i.e. shorter telomeres). This can mean as telomere length decrease a useful biomarker of lifetime exposure to environmental and biological stressors and a major factor of study in the claim is not related to soda consumption.

2. Obesity related deaths are low when compared to tobacco related deaths in a large population which is seen by the following example in USA. "Approximately one-half of the population aged 2 and older consumes sugar drinks on any given day. Studies in children and adults have found that reducing sugary drink consumption can lead to better weight control" among those who are initially overweight. "An estimated 42.1 million adults in the United States currently smoke cigarettesand an estimated 3,000 kids each day under the age of 18 try their first cigarette and another 700 become regular, daily smokers".

This in turn also shows that the population in the U.S. consumes more sugary beverages than smoke cigarettes, yet 440,000 people die every year from tobacco use compared with just 112,000 from obesity.

1. A study researching dietary patterns, food groups, and telomere length in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) in 2008 found no connection between sugar-sweetened soda and telomere length (i.e. shorter telomeres). This can mean that decrease of telomere length which is a useful biomarker of lifetime exposure to environmental and biological stressors and a major factor of study in the claim is not related to soda consumption.

2. Smoking-attributable mortality is high when compared to obesity associated deaths in a large population which is seen by the following example in USA. "Approximately one-half of the population aged 2 and older consumes sugar drinks on any given day. Studies in children and adults have found that reducing sugary drink consumption can lead to better weight control" among those who are initially overweight. "An estimated 42.1 million adults in the United States currently smoke cigarettes and an estimated 3,000 kids each day under the age of 18 try their first cigarette and another 700 become regular, daily smokers".

These numbers reflect that tobacco use is far worse than consumption of soda in terms of deaths i.e. the population in the U.S. consumes more sugary beverages than smoke cigarettes, yet 440,000 people die every year from tobacco use compared with just 112,000 from obesity.