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Early death by junk food? High levels of phosphate in sodas and processed foods accelerate the aging process in mice

Date:
April 28, 2010
Source:
Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology
Summary:
High levels of phosphates may add more "pop" to sodas and processed foods than once thought. That's because researchers have found that the high levels of phosphates accelerate signs of aging. High phosphate levels may also increase the prevalence and severity of age-related complications, such as chronic kidney disease and cardiovascular calcification, and can also induce severe muscle and skin atrophy.
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Here's another reason to kick the soda habit. New research published online in the FASEB Journal shows that high levels of phosphates may add more "pop" to sodas and processed foods than once thought. That's because researchers have found that the high levels of phosphates accelerate signs of aging. High phosphate levels may also increase the prevalence and severity of age-related complications, such as chronic kidney disease and cardiovascular calcification, and can also induce severe muscle and skin atrophy.

"Humans need a healthy diet and keeping the balance of phosphate in the diet may be important for a healthy life and longevity," said M. Shawkat Razzaque, M.D., Ph.D., from the Department of Medicine, Infection and Immunity at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine. "Avoid phosphate toxicity and enjoy a healthy life."

To make this discovery, Razzaque and colleague examined the effects of high phosphate levels in three groups of mice. The first group of mice was missing a gene (klotho), which when absent, causes mice to have toxic levels of phosphate in their bodies. These mice lived 8 to 15 weeks. The second group of mice was missing the klotho gene and a second gene (NaPi2a), which when absent at the same time, substantially lowered the amount of phosphate in their bodies. These mice lived to 20 weeks. The third group of mice was like the second group (missing both the klotho and NaPi2a genes), except they were fed a high-phosphate diet. All of these mice died by 15 weeks, like those in the first group. This suggests that phosphate has toxic effects in mice, and may have a similar effect in other mammals, including humans.

"Soda is the caffeine delivery vehicle of choice for millions of people worldwide, but comes with phosphorus as a passenger," said Gerald Weissmann, M.D., Editor-in-Chief of the FASEB Journal. "This research suggests that our phosphorus balance influences the aging process, so don't tip it."


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Materials provided by Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal Reference:

  1. M. Ohnishi, M. S. Razzaque. Dietary and genetic evidence for phosphate toxicity accelerating mammalian aging. The FASEB Journal, 2010; DOI: 10.1096/fj.09-152488

Cite This Page:

Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology. "Early death by junk food? High levels of phosphate in sodas and processed foods accelerate the aging process in mice." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 28 April 2010. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/04/100426151636.htm>.
Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology. (2010, April 28). Early death by junk food? High levels of phosphate in sodas and processed foods accelerate the aging process in mice. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 28, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/04/100426151636.htm
Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology. "Early death by junk food? High levels of phosphate in sodas and processed foods accelerate the aging process in mice." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/04/100426151636.htm (accessed March 28, 2024).

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