• TikTokers are drinking Ricezempic – a drink made from discarded rice water – to aid weight loss. 
• They claim that the drink is full of resistant starches that suppress appetite and help you feel full for longer, similar to GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy.
• Experts say resistant starches may aid feelings of fullness but that Ricezempic isn’t a viable weight loss aid.

Another weight loss hack has gone viral on TikTok. This time, it’s Ricezempic, a homemade drink that users claim mimics the effects of GLP-1 weight loss drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Zepbound.

The drink is made by soaking uncooked rice in water for a short period of time, removing and discarding the rice, and then drinking the water.

TikTokers say it’s best consumed first thing in the morning before you eat. 

The claim? Proponents say the drink triggers weight loss because it contains resistant starches. They claim that this suppresses your appetite and allows you to feel fuller for longer, similar to Ozempic. 

One TikToker even claims that they have lost 27kg (59 lbs) in two months by drinking Ricezempic. 

So, can this drink really mimic the effects of GLP-1 drugs and trigger significant weight loss? Health experts aren’t convinced. 

Ricezempic and weight loss: is there a link?

Lisa Moskovitz, registered dietitian, CEO of Virtual Nutritionists, and author of The Core 3 Healthy Eating Plan, isn’t surprised to see people turning to Ozempic alternatives like this, but she doesn’t believe Ricezempic is a viable weight loss solution. 

“Ozempic hacks are on the rise, and Ricezempic is another example of how many people are searching for magic bullets for weight loss,” she said. “But weight loss is not so simple for the vast majority of people. It’s often due to stressful lifestyles, genetics, and other impeding factors.” 

Moskovitz described the trend as “low-hanging fruit, instilling a false sense of hope” in people who are living with obesity or overweight. 

Registered dietitian Kim Shapira echoed these thoughts. She said Ricezempic feels like a “reach.” 

“There is that great quote that you can’t outrun a bad diet, and I think if we can start talking about the sum total of a person’s diet and lifestyle choices in a positive, empowering way, we won’t see as many fads or have the need for Ozempic at all,” she noted. 

One of the reasons so many people are claiming that Ricezempic works as a weight loss aid is because of starch. The rice water is said to contain a naturally occurring resistant starch found in rice. 

“Resistant starch can slow down digestion, leading to better blood sugar levels and a longer sense of fullness,” Moskovitz explained. “This can make it easier to eat less and promote a calorie deficit, which is necessary for fat-burning.” 

Moskovitz said drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy work through similar mechanisms, although they are much stronger and also target areas in the brain that regulate appetite.

Similarly, Shapira pointed out that Ozempic is a medication that works on the emotional centers of the brain, turning down food noise, too. 

“This means when a person experiences discomfort, their mind is now able to differentiate hunger vs emotional needs for food,” she said. 

You won’t get the same effects by drinking rice water. 

Crucially, rice water isn’t food. “It’s a watery drink full of who knows how much actual resistant starch,” Shapira said. 

Potential benefits of drinking Ricezempic

So, Ricezempic is unlikely to promote significant weight loss, but it may have some other health benefits. 

“The main benefit of Ricezempic is consuming more resistant starch,” said Moskovitz. “Resistant starch not only promotes better blood sugar levels, but it can also benefit your gut health and bolster good gut bacteria proliferation.” 

This can increase the amount of good bacteria in your digestive tract, which is important for proper digestion, immunity, mental health, and metabolic health. 

Shapira said starches have so many benefits, but she says you’re better off getting them from food rather than rice water. 

“Eating rice as part of a balanced meal is beneficial,” she says. “So many people fear starches but we need these types of foods to be part of our diet to improve our immune function, heart, gut and brain health.” 

Shapira said starches that are resistant are essentially a dietary fiber. “Dietary fiber can improve our gut health in many ways, enhancing digestion and regulating bowels, insulin spikes, and blood sugar.” 

Potential health risks of Ricezempic  

That said, Ricezempic is not without potential health risks. In fact, Moskovitz said there are several risks involved with jumping on the Ricezempic bandwagon. 

“First, consuming anything uncooked or raw always leaves the possibility of food-borne illnesses, and rice is no exception,” she explained. “Second, rice is one of the leading sources of arsenic, and drinking rice-infused water can increase the concentration and exposure of this toxic heavy metal.” 

Moskovitz also said that replacing food with water means you’re reducing the amount of nutritious foods in your diet, which is never ideal.

Additionally, Shapira points out that drinking rice water can increase gas, bloating, and constipation if the rest of your diet isn’t balanced. 

The good news is that there are many ways to mimic the effects of Ricezempic in your diet without succumbing to this potentially dangerous trend.

“Eating a higher fiber and antioxidant-rich diet is the best way to boost gut health, promote more stable blood sugar levels, and make it easier to keep calories down and promote healthy, sustainable weight loss,” said Moskovitz.  

“You can also supplement with potato starch, which contains a significant amount of resistant starch, even more so than Ricezempic,” she added. 

Takeaway 

Ricezempic has been touted as an effective alternative to Ozempic, but it’s unlikely to mimic the effects of the drug.

It may slow digestion and improve gut health, but it’s unlikely to lead to significant weight loss, and it’s not the healthiest way to lose weight.

• Singer Lance Bass revealed that he has type 1.5 diabetes, also known as latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA).
• This is a form of diabetes that develops in adulthood, generally over age 30, and slowly worsens over time, similar to type 2 diabetes.
• Unlike type 2 diabetes, LADA is an autoimmune disease, so it can’t be reversed with changes in diet and lifestyle.

Singer Lance Bass revealed in an Instagram reel that his recent diabetes journey comes with a twist.

“As all of you know, I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes a few years back,” the singer said in a sponsored post for a continuous glucose monitor. “But when I was first diagnosed, I had a difficult time getting my glucose levels under control, even though I made adjustments to my diet, my medications and my workout routine.” 

“I recently discovered I was misdiagnosed,” he said. “I actually have Type 1.5, also known as LADA, or latent autoimmune diabetes in adults.”

Here’s what to know about this condition.

What is type 1.5 diabetes?

Type 1.5 diabetes, also called latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA), is a form of diabetes that begins during adulthood and slowly worsens over time.

LADA has some similarities to type 2 diabetes — both develop gradually and are diagnosed when someone is an adult. 

As a result, LADA is often incorrectly diagnosed as type 2 diabetes. In fact, between 4% and 12% of people with type 2 diabetes may have LADA.

Unlike type 2 diabetes, though, LADA is an autoimmune disease, so it can’t be reversed with changes in diet and lifestyle — although these can help a person manage their disease.

LADA happens when the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, which causes the pancreas to stop making insulin.

“[This] destruction of beta cells occurs very slowly over many years,” said Saleh Adi, MD, a pediatric endocrinologist and vice president of medical affairs at Willow Laboratories, developer of the Nutu app, which helps people prevent or delay the development of type 2 diabetes.

“This results in a gradual loss of insulin secretion and an increase in blood glucose levels,” he told Healthline. “Patients with LADA remain asymptomatic for years until there is significant loss of beta cells, or there is an increase in insulin resistance.”

This kind of damage to pancreatic beta cells also occurs in type 1 diabetes, a form of diabetes that begins in childhood or adolescence. Damage to the beta cells occurs more slowly in LADA than in type 1 diabetes.

LADA is also more genetically similar to type 1 diabetes than to type 2 diabetes. People who have a close family member with LADA, type 1 diabetes, or an autoimmune disease may have a higher risk of developing LADA.

“Many diabetes organizations, including the American Diabetes Association, consider LADA to be simply a sub-type of type 1 diabetes that develops very slowly due to some differences in the autoimmune processes that attack the beta cells,” said Adi.

What are the symptoms of type 1.5 diabetes?

People usually develop symptoms of LADA after the age of 30. Symptoms may be vague in the beginning. Some people have no symptoms at first.

As with all types of diabetes, the symptoms of LADA are related to high blood glucose, said Adi. They include:

• increased urination
• frequent thirst
• unexplained weight loss
• fatigue
• blurred vision
• tingling in the feet

Because damage to the pancreatic beta cells occurs slowly, people with LADA may not require insulin to help control their blood sugar (glucose) level in the first 6 months or more after diagnosis.

How is type 1.5 diabetes diagnosed?

Because LADA occurs later in life and often has mild symptoms without much weight loss, many patients are mistakenly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and treated with oral medications, said Adi.

“However, their symptoms do not improve because what they really need is a replacement of insulin,” he said. “It is therefore critical to distinguish LADA from type 2 diabetes.”

He said certain clinical clues indicate a person may have LADA:

• They have another autoimmune condition or a close family member with an autoimmune condition.
• Their blood glucose level doesn’t improve even when taking medications for treating type 2 diabetes.
• They don’t have other signs of type 2 diabetes, such as being overweight or having obesity or having signs of insulin resistance.

The diagnosis of LADA is then confirmed by the presence of at least one pancreatic auto-antibody, Adi said, which provides evidence of beta cells being destroyed.

Another lab test which suggests that someone may have LADA instead of type 2 diabetes is a low level of C-peptide, he said. This is a surrogate for insulin levels in the blood.

How is type 1.5 diabetes treated?

There is currently no way to prevent LADA. 

As a result, “the most critical factor in improving the outcomes of patients with LADA is a correct diagnosis and prompt treatment with insulin,” said Adi.

Early treatment can prevent diabetes-related complications such as kidney disease, cardiovascular problems, eye disease, and nerve problems.

In the beginning, LADA may be managed with lifestyle changes such as maintaining a healthy weight, staying physically active, eating a healthy diet, and quitting smoking. These are also recommended for people with type 2 diabetes.

However, as the body slowly loses its ability to produce insulin, most people with LADA will eventually need to use insulin to control their blood sugar. Monitoring their blood glucose with frequent blood sugar testing will also be needed.

“Patients with LADA who finally start taking insulin describe a marked regain in their energy, physical and mental strength, and healthy weight gain,” said Adi.

Earlier treatment can help in other ways.

“Current evidence is that early initiation of insulin therapy can slow down beta cell loss,” said Adi, “making it easier to manage diabetes without a high risk of hypoglycemia.”

Takeaway

Singer Lance Bass announced that he was diagnosed with type 1.5 diabetes, or latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA). This is a form of diabetes that usually develops after the age of 30 and slowly worsens over time.

Unlike type 2 diabetes, LADA is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin. Type 1 diabetes is also an autoimmune form of diabetes, but it begins in childhood or adolescence.

There is currently no way to prevent LADA, but early diagnosis can ensure that people start appropriate treatment. This can prevent diabetes-related complications such as kidney disease and eye problems.

The most common treatment is insulin, which helps control blood sugar levels.

• Zepbound and Mounjaro have been on the Food and Drug Administration’s shortage list for months.
• Many people who rely on them to treat diabetes or help with weight loss have had trouble filling their prescriptions as a result. 
• In response, manufacturer Eli Lilly has ramped up production, and now, according to the FDA, they are available again.

Weight loss and diabetes GLP-1 drugs like Mounjaro, Zepbound, Wegovy, and Ozempic have flown off the shelves in recent years, outstripping manufacturing and leading to shortages. This has made it challenging for some people to get access to the drugs they need.

In fact, the diabetes medication Mounjaro has been on the Food and Drug Administration’s shortage list since late 2022, while Zepbound, a drug approved for weight loss, appeared on the list in April 2024.

To meet this growing demand, drugmaker Eli Lilly has bolstered their manufacturing to increase supply and make the drugs readily available again.

On August 1, Lilly CEO David Ricks said in an interview with Bloomberg that the shortage would end “very soon,” Reuters reported.

The next day, the Food and Drug Administration updated the status of Mounjaro and Zepbound in its drug shortage database to indicate they are available once more.

Shortages increased demand for compounded versions of GLP-1 drugs

 In 2023, Mounjaro drove more than $5 billion in sales, and in the first four months of 2024, doctors issued 63,000 Zepbound prescriptions weekly.

As supplies of these medications dwindled, some pharmacies began producing compounded versions to fill the gaps.

The FDA Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act allows pharmacists to produce and sell compounded versions, making them a lifeline for those who need the medication. Due to the drug shortage, compounded versions of GLP-1 drugs have become a billion-dollar enterprise.

Britta Reierson, MD, a board certified family physician and obesity medicine specialist, explained that compounded drugs are “custom-made medications prepared by pharmacists to meet the specific needs of a patient.”

“Compounded versions of drugs are not regulated nor approved by the FDA,” Reierson told Healthline.

Mir Ali, MD, a board certified bariatric surgeon and medical director of MemorialCare Surgical Weight Loss Center at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, CA, added that “as long as the source is reputable, this is a viable alternative.”

Still, consumers ought to perform their due diligence when considering compounded GLP-1 drugs.

A news release from Eli Lilly in June 2024 outlines some concerns surrounding compounded versions of tirzepatide (the active ingredient in Mounjaro and Zepbound), some of which contained bacteria: “Sterility is a critical safety concern, given that Mounjaro and Zepbound are administered via under-the-skin injection.”

They also write in the release that “in at least one instance, the product was nothing more than sugar alcohol.”

How shortages of GLP-1 drugs impacted people with diabetes

“The national shortage of Zepbound and Mounjaro undoubtedly impacts many people’s health and wellness,” HaVy Ngo-Hamilton, PharmD, a pharmacist and clinical consultant at BuzzRx, told Healthline.

“For a diabetic patient who takes Mounjaro for their blood sugar, not being able to obtain this medication can be detrimental, leading to kidney disease, nervous system issues, and vision problems,” she added.

Ngo-Hamilton explained the issue becomes exacerbated for people who take Mounjaro, as this drug is more frequently used by individuals who cannot tolerate metformin (the most common drug to treat type 2 diabetes) or who do not benefit sufficiently from it.

“Additionally, the uncertainty and stress of not being able to access essential medications has negatively affected their overall well-being and quality of life,” Reierson explained. “The shortage in medications has led to clinicians recommending different medications that may be easier to access, yet may not be as effective for an individual patient.”

Why GLP-1 drug shortages will likely continue

Despite the fact that Mounjaro and Zepbound are no longer in short supply, we may not have seen the end of these shortages.

“I think the shortages are likely to continue for the foreseeable future,” Ali told Healthline. “As long as obesity continues to be a big concern, the demand for these medications will remain high.”

Reierson agreed, explaining that “factors like increased demand, supply chain disruptions, and manufacturing challenges” are likely to continue causing supply challenges.

Ngo-Hamilton said she believes “we are better prepared to prevent shortages now that manufacturers have a clearer understanding of the product demand.”

She also noted that FDA-approved alternatives are now entering the market, easing the pressure on Eli Lilly.

Are too many people taking GLP-1 drugs like Zepbound and Mounjaro?

These medications have been a game-changer in treating obesity, as they can help people lose significant weight.

However, they are not a magic bullet, and many are worried that their popularity may be causing several issues.

“I have concerns about what I see as widespread and uninformed use of these medications,” Reireson said. “There continue to be mixed messages through social media and endorsements by celebrities that may lead people to seek these medications ‘off-label,’ even if not clinically indicated.”

“The soaring demand has led to shortages and manufacturing delays, resulting in a surge in compounded, counterfeit, and fake medications to hit the market,” Reireson continued. “This keeps me up at night, knowing that some people are at risk for serious complications.”

Ngo-Hamilton had similar thoughts: “My primary concern about the widespread use of these medications is the potential implications for patient safety.” 

“With increased marketing, influencer campaigns, patient testimonials, and wall-to-wall media coverage of celebrities experiencing weight loss success using these medications, it can be easy to overlook the potential risks and side effects.”  

The takeaway

After months on the FDA’s shortage list, Eli Lilly’s GLP-1 drugs Zepbound and Mounjaro are once more available.

This is good news, as many people who rely on these medications to treat diabetes or help with weight loss have had difficulty filling their prescriptions.

However, while the drugs are currently available, health experts say the growing demand for them could mean more shortages in the future.

• A study from the American Federation for Aging Research is looking into what contributes to people living until 95 and beyond.
• SuperAgers and their adult children are welcome to enroll in the study.
• 95-year-old Sally Froelich shares her journey as a SuperAger.

At 95 years old, Sally Froelich has a wealth of life experiences.

In 1950, she began working at Macy’s Department store in New York City and eventually landed a role at Bloomingdale’s, where she was hired to interview people during its morning breakfast offerings. Her interactions with customers led to the creation of “The Sally Froelich Show,” which aired for more than 20 years.

“The guests would talk to me, and the audience would ask questions. It was a lot of fun,” she told Healthline.

She recalls a series for the show called “The Vital Years,” in which she talked with different experts about the aging process.

“I was about 60 years old at the time, and it was really about people my age today — second marriages, exercise, different problems, grandchildren, etc.,” said Froelich.

Remembering the series strikes a chord with her as she is currently one of 600 people participating in the SuperAgers Family Study conducted by the American Federation for Aging Research.

The study aims to recruit 10,000 SuperAgers, who researchers define as people 95 and older who are in good physical and mental health.

The study also enrolls the SuperAgers’ adult children and the children’s spouses who do not have SuperAger parents.

“They are just as important as the SuperAgers because we need to draw comparisons in the frequency of the genes,” Sofiya Milman, MD, MS, national expert on aging and Director of Human Longevity Studies at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, told Healthline.

“The ultimate goal of the study is to help us understand what biology contributes to people living long and healthy lives, and specifically, we’re interested in what genes may play a role in contributing to people’s ability to stay disease-free as they get older.”

By identifying the genes that contribute to people’s longevity, Milman hopes that scientists will be able to develop medications and drugs that can mimic the role of genes that SuperAgers possess so that others who do not inherit those genes can also live longer, healthier lives.

She said older research has implicated genes as likely contributors to longevity, including genes that regulate HDL cholesterol and that control growth hormones.

Moreover, she said genes play a more prominent role than lifestyle in SuperAgers. She determined this by comparing the lifestyles of SuperAgers from previous studies to the lifestyles of people from their generation who did not become SuperAgers.

“We found that they had very similar lifestyles — they didn’t differ in smoking, tobacco or alcohol use, or in their diet, or exercise, so there were really no differences, and yet a small group achieved SuperAger status, and another group did not,” said Milman.

Lifestyle still matters for longevity despite your genes

While more Americans are living longer lives today than in past generations, Milman said only about 0.1% live to be 95 or older, most likely due to genetics.

For the other 99.9% of the population, she said lifestyle habits can help stave off age-related diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.

“The difference is that you can probably delay the onset of age-related diseases with a healthy lifestyle, although it’s unclear whether having a healthy lifestyle will get you to age 95 or 100,” said Milman.

One way to think about it is that 20 to 40% of longevity is due to your genes, which means 60 to 80% is what happens to you when you’re alive, said Rosanne Leipzig, MD, PhD, a geriatrician at Mount Sinai and author of Honest Aging: An Insiders Guide to the Second Half of Life.

Some of that comes down to lucky circumstances, she noted.

“You really don’t have a lot of control over the education you get, prenatal environment, your childhood nutrition, your access to medical care, whether you live in a polluted area — all which can contribute to health and longevity,” Leipzig told Healthline.

She points to the concept of “weathering,” which says that the health of African American women may begin to deteriorate in early adulthood as a physical consequence of cumulative socioeconomic disadvantage.

When given access to healthy lifestyle choices, however, how you choose them can make a difference, Leipzig added.

“We have a lot of control,” she said. “Let’s just say you can certainly make sure you die early.”

How to live a longer, healthier life, according to a SuperAger

In addition to genetics, many lifestyle habits that have been touted for years can help keep you healthy. Froelich practices the following:  

• Eat a balanced diet. “I eat three meals a day. I don’t overeat,” she said.
• Don’t smoke or drink excessively. Smokers experience three times the risk of dying prematurely from heart disease or stroke than non-smokers. Additionally, a study found that adults who drink 7 to 14 drinks per week could expect, on average, a six-month shorter life expectancy as of age 40.
• Maintain a healthy weight. Froelich’s weight hasn’t changed in 50 years. “My body certainly has changed; I’ve gotten dumpier, but that’s part of life,” she said.
• Exercise regularly. Froelich played sports most of her life and continues to golf two to three times a week. She also exercises six days a week for 20 minutes by engaging in daily stretches and performing 80 sit-ups in bed when she wakes up. Three days a week, she lifts 8-pound weights with her arms and 5-pound weights with her legs.
• Use your brain. Froelich plays bridge once a week with friends and a few times a week online. She also listens to audiobooks and watches television in the morning and evenings.
• Stay socially connected. In May 2023, the U.S. Surgeon General issued a report stating that half of American adults are lonely and that loneliness poses severe risks to health and longevity. In addition to golfing, to stay connected to others, Froelich goes out to lunch and to dinner on a weekly basis. She also sees her children once a week and tries to visit with her grandchildren in person or via Zoom. “I find that if I’ve been hanging around the house a lot, I just go out and walk around the block,” she said.
• Find joy. Froelich feels lucky to be alive well into her 90s and she said it’s important to “do what you want to do and things that make you happy. Eat ice cream and delicious chocolate.”
• Take care of yourself. Rather than not caring how you look, Froelich said, “Keep your hair done, your nails done, and keep looking nice. And be sure you have somebody that will tell you if you have a spot on you or [if] anything is off.”
• Think about aging as a good thing. A person’s perception of aging influences what their aging will be like, however, not necessarily their longevity, said Leipzig. “There’s good work out there that suggests people with a positive perception of aging live about 7.5 more years and live better,” she said.

The bottom line

Living to be a SuperAger may not be in everyone’s genes, but Milman said as people age, disability and disease are not a given.

“There are many people who remain healthy and independent and have a good quality of life as they get older, so we shouldn’t conflate aging always with disease and disability,” she said.

SuperAgers give her hope for discovering “the secret” to aging well.

“We hope this research will help us all live longer…even if we are not that 0.1 percent of the population who inherit genes,” she said.

Visit the organization’s website to enroll in the SuperAgers Family Study.

• People who use aspirin regularly have a lower risk of colorectal cancer compared to those who don’t use aspirin regularly, a new study shows.
• The benefits were greatest for people with an unhealthy lifestyle, such as moderate or heavy smokers, and those with overweight or obesity.
• People with the healthiest lifestyle — whether or not they used aspirin regularly — had a lower risk of colorectal cancer compared to people with the unhealthiest lifestyle who used aspirin.

In the United States, an estimated 152,810 people will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2024, with more than 53,000 deaths this year due to this cancer, according to the National Cancer Institute.

While rates of colorectal cancer in the country declined by about 1% each year from 2011 to 2019, this has been mostly in older adults, the American Cancer Society (ACS) reports. In contrast, ACS said rates among people under 55 years old have increased by 1% to 2% since the mid-1990s.

Genetics plays a role in the development of colorectal cancer. For example, people whose parent, sibling or child had colorectal cancer are at an increased risk.

However, lifestyle factors can also increase a person’s risk of colorectal cancer, including having overweight or obesity, having type 2 diabetes, eating an unhealthy diet, smoking tobacco, and drinking alcohol.

Now researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School have found that regular aspirin use may lower colorectal cancer risk in people with unhealthy lifestyles.

The study was published Aug. 1 in JAMA Oncology.

Mixed evidence on the anticancer effects of aspirin

Previous research showed that regular aspirin use can lower the risk of colorectal cancer.

In 2016, the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommended low dose aspirin for colorectal cancer prevention in adults ages 50 to 59.

However, in 2022, the USPSTF withdrew its recommendation, citing a lack of evidence showing that aspirin reduces a person’s chance of developing or dying from colorectal cancer.

Long-term use of aspirin can also cause gastrointestinal bleeding, ulcers and other complications.

Given that some earlier research showed that aspirin reduced the risk of colorectal cancer, the authors of the new study decided to look at whether this benefit was higher for people with certain lifestyle factors.

For the study, they examined data from more than 107,000 people who participated in the Nurses’ Health Study or the Health Professionals Follow-up Study. 

The average age of participants was 49 years. They were all health professionals, and most were white. Additional research would be needed in more diverse populations to see if the results would be the same.

Researchers followed participants for more than three decades. During this time, participants completed surveys about five lifestyle factors: body mass index (BMI), whether they smoked tobacco or used alcohol, and their physical activity and diet. 

Participants also reported on their use of aspirin or other medications and whether they developed any diseases during the study period, including colorectal cancer. 

Researchers defined regular aspirin use as two or more standard-dose tablets per week or six or more low-dose tablets per week.

Aspirin lowers colon cancer risk for adults with unhealthy lifestyles

Overall, the risk of developing colorectal cancer over a 10-year period was 1.98% among participants who used aspirin regularly, compared with 2.95% for people who didn’t use aspirin regularly.

When comparing these two groups, researchers found that regular users of aspirin had an 18% lower relative risk of being diagnosed with colorectal cancer, compared with people who didn’t use aspirin or used it less often.

Participants with unhealthier lifestyles benefitted the most from regular aspirin use in terms of lowering their relative risk of colorectal cancer. The greatest benefits occurred for moderate or heavy smokers and people with a BMI of 25 or greater.

BMI is a screening measure for having overweight or obesity. Generally, a healthy weight for adults 20 years and older is a BMI of 18.5 to less than 25. However, BMI is not always reliable during pregnancy or for athletes or older adults.

The study also showed that people with healthier lifestyles benefitted from regular aspirin use, but less so. 

It also reinforces the overall benefits of a healthy lifestyle. People with the healthiest lifestyle — whether or not they used aspirin regularly — had a lower 10-year risk of colorectal cancer compared to regular aspirin users with the unhealthiest lifestyle.

The study does not show how regular aspirin use might help. Still, the authors point to previous research suggesting that aspirin may inhibit pro-inflammatory signals contributing to cancer growth.

Given the risks of long-term use of aspirin — such as gastrointestinal bleeding — the authors write that “these results support the use of lifestyle risk factors to identify individuals who may have a more favorable risk-benefit profile for cancer prevention with aspirin.”

A growing need for personalized medicine

Wael Harb, MD, a hematologist and medical oncologist at MemorialCare Cancer Institute at Orange Coast and Saddleback Medical Centers in Orange County, CA, said the new study’s results might prompt the US Preventive Services Task Force to reconsider the regular use of aspirin for the prevention of colorectal cancer. Harb wasn’t involved in the study.

However, Jason Zell, DO, MPH, a hematology-oncology specialist at the UCI Health Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center and associate professor at the UCI School of Medicine, questions whether the study is strong enough to change the USPSTF recommendations. Zell was likewise not involved in the study.

This was not a randomized controlled trial (RCT) that compared people who took aspirin to those who didn’t. “As such, this level of evidence is insufficient to change USPSTF recommendations,” he said.

In addition, “the USPSTF withdrew its recommendations for aspirin use — which was limited to a very small portion of the population anyway — in part due to complications such as bleeding,” Zell said.

The new study did not provide data on how many people taking aspirin regularly had bleeding or other complications, he said. This information could influence the assessment of the risks and benefits of regular aspirin use in people with unhealthy lifestyles.

Overall, “while this level of evidence is not enough to change physician recommendations about aspirin, it certainly could spawn more detailed future research,” Zell said, such as that “related to the benefits and risks of regular aspirin use in those with varying degrees of healthy or unhealthy lifestyles.”

Harb thinks the study, which implies that aspirin’s preventive benefits may vary based on individual lifestyle factors, “could lead to more personalized recommendations from physicians.”

Anton Bilchik, MD, PhD, surgical oncologist, chief of medicine and director of the Gastrointestinal and Hepatobiliary Program at Providence Saint John’s Cancer Institute in Santa Monica, CA, agreed. Bilchik wasn’t involved in the study.

“This study shows that taking two regular aspirins a week reduces the risk of getting colon cancer,” he said. “It also identifies groups of patients — particularly those that are obese or smokers — who are more likely to benefit from aspirin.”

Ask you doctor about daily aspirin use

Bilchik emphasizes that patients who are concerned about their risk of colorectal cancer should talk with their doctor before starting to take aspirin regularly.

“Although aspirin is a very safe drug, there is group of patients that may be at higher risk of gastrointestinal bleeding,” he said. “It’s not a common side effect of aspirin, but no one should routinely take two large aspirins a week without consulting their doctor.”

When they do, they should also ask about other ways to reduce their cancer risk.

“This study adds to the growing body of evidence on the importance of diet and lifestyle modifications in preventing colorectal cancer,” Zell said.

These kinds of lifestyle changes can reduce your risk of other types of cancer, cardiovascular disease, and other health problems, pointed out Harb, which is why doctors always recommend that patients reduce these risk factors.

However, “in reality, even with our best efforts, some of these factors might not be modifiable, or people might not be able to change them,” he said.

“So in the interim, while we’re trying to change this behavior, it’s reasonable to consider regular aspirin use as way to reduce the risk of colorectal cancer, he said.

Takeaway

Researchers examined data from more than 107,000 health professionals who took part in two long-term studies. Participants answered surveys about lifestyle factors and use of aspirin or other medications.

People who used aspirin regularly had a lower risk of being diagnosed with colorectal cancer, compared with people who didn’t use aspirin regularly. 

The largest benefit of aspirin was for people with the unhealthiest lifestyle, including moderate and heavy smokers, and people who had overweight or obesity.

People with the healthiest lifestyle — whether or not they used aspirin regularly — had a lower risk of colorectal cancer compared to people with the unhealthiest lifestyle who used aspirin regularly.

• A new study investigates trends in 34 types of cancer in the United States.
• For 17 cancer types, Generation X and Millennials have a higher risk than previous generations.
• Similarly, for five cancer types, mortality risk is also higher in younger generations.
• Many factors may be involved, but obesity likely plays a substantial role.

A new study published August 1 in The Lancet Public Health takes an in-depth look at cancer rates in the United States. The scientists measured incidence rates of cancer and cancer mortality in different generations.

They found that 17 cancer types were more common in recent generations, noting the incidence rate for some forms was 2–3 times higher in people born in 1990 than in 1955.

While the causes for these increases require more research, the authors cite obesity, diet, and environmental toxins as major contributing factors.

Higher cancer rates in younger generations

In a previous study published in 2019 by the same authors, they found the incidence of eight types of cancer increased in younger generations compared with older generations.

However, no study has looked at both cancer incidence — the number of new cases — and cancer mortality by birth year. The latest study plugs this gap.

As the authors explain, trends in cancer incidence in people aged 50 or younger mostly reflect an increased exposure to carcinogenic factors in early life or young adulthood.

So, they “foreshadow future disease burden as these young cohorts carry their increased risk into older age, when cancers most frequently occur.”

Increases in cancer incidence and mortality

To investigate, the scientists used information from 23,654,000 people diagnosed with 34 types of cancer and 7,348,137 deaths from 25 cancers from 2000–2019.

They found an increased incidence in 17 of the 34 cancers in progressively younger generations:

• cardia gastric: a type of stomach cancer
• small intestine
• estrogen receptor-positive breast
• ovary
• liver and intrahepatic bile duct (in females)
• non-HPV-associated oral and pharynx (in females)
• anus (in males)
• Kaposi sarcoma (in males): a form of cancer that starts in the lining of blood and lymph vessels
• colorectal cancer
• endometrial cancer
• gallbladder and other biliary
• kidney and renal pelvis
• pancreas
• myeloma: a blood cancer
• non-cardia gastric: another type of stomach cancer
• testis
• leukemia: a blood cancer

The increase in incidence was particularly pronounced in cancers of the small intestine, thyroid, kidney and renal pelvis, and pancreas. Compared with people born in 1955, the incidence in those born in 1990 was two- to three-fold greater.

Also, in five cancer types, mortality rates also increased:

• liver and intrahepatic bile duct in females
• endometrial cancer
• gallbladder and other biliary
• testicular
• colorectal cancers

“These findings are sobering as they indicate the increased cancer risk in younger generations is not merely an artifact due to more frequent cancer detection and diagnosis,” explained study author Hyuna Sung, PhD.

“Instead, it points to a genuine increase in cancer risk at the population level, with the increase in incidence being substantial enough to outweigh improvements in cancer survival,” Sung told Healthline.

Why the sharp increase in cancer rates?

While this study was not designed to explain why these cancers increased, the researchers explain that obesity likely plays a substantial role.

10 of the 17 cancers listed in the study are associated with obesity. The authors explain that, since the 1970s, obesity has increased in all age groups, but the swiftest increase has been in younger people, aged 2–19 years.

This is backed up by other research demonstrating that excess weight and obesity at a younger age are associated with an increased risk of 18 forms of cancer.

According to the new paper, beyond overweight and obesity, other factors may also play a role, such as an increase in sedentary lifestyles, altered sleep patterns, and chemicals in the environment. However, much less is known about the importance of these factors.

How diet and the gut microbiome may affect cancer rates

The so-called Western diet, which is high in saturated fats, sugar, refined grains, and ultra-processed foods, is linked to increased cancer risk. 

“Emerging evidence suggests that ultra-processed food increases body weight but is also independently associated with the risk of some cancers, such as breast and colorectal,” Sung said.

Because some cancers affecting the digestive system are not related directly to obesity, the authors suggest that changes in the gut microbiome may also be a factor.

With the two-pronged rise of the Western diet and antibiotic use, the gut microbiome has been severely impacted.

Although scientists do not fully understand the role of gut bacteria in cancer, the authors write that specific microbes and dietary patterns have now been linked to oral and gastrointestinal tract cancers.

How is epigenetics related to cancer?

Jennifer Dunphy, MD, doctor of public Health and co-founder of the Wellness Innovation Network told Healthline she was particularly interested in the potential role of epigenetics on health.

“Epigenetic changes are changes to the expression of proteins from DNA, without changes to the DNA itself — usually as a result of environmental factors,” she explained. In other words, when an individual passes on their genes to their offspring, they also pass on certain changes to how these genes are expressed — how easily they are turned “on” or “off.”

“It seems that epigenetic changes are a large part of the equation here, meaning your DNA isn’t the only thing that matters — your behavior today is probably going to impact your offspring through heritable changes, just like the behavior and exposures of your parents and even your grandparents impact your health today,” Dunphy said.

This adds a fresh and rather bleak twist to the findings.

“While there are many harmful exposures we can and should prevent against,” Dunphy continued. “I do not think that, on average, we are doing all of this extensive damage to our bodies in one lifetime alone, I think we are carrying over vulnerabilities from our predecessors.”  

Exposure to toxins may affect cancer rates

The authors suggest that certain environmental toxins may play a role in increasing cancer rates.

“The most harmful environmental toxin thought to contribute to carcinogenesis is the use of plastics and their breakdown products,” Walter Kim, MD, an integrative medicine physician with Brio-Medical, told Healthline. Kim was not involved in the study.

Dazhi Liu, PharmD, an oncology clinical pharmacy specialist and medical contributor for Drugwatch, not involved in the study, suggested other potential candidates, including:

• aflatoxins
• benzene
• soot
• arsenic
• aristolochic acids
• nickel compounds
• radon
• thorium
• trichloroethylene
• vinyl chloride
• wood dust

Rates of some forms of cancer are declining

Despite the concerning implications of increasing cancer rates in younger generations, Sung noted a few silver linings.

“The accelerated downturn in the trend of cervical cancer incidence shows the effectiveness of HPV vaccination among women born around 1990, who were about 16 years old when HPV vaccination was first approved in the United States,” she said.

Sung added the recent decline in cancers of the lung, larynx, and esophagus was driven by the drop in smoking rates.

Mortality rates are also declining for many cancer types, even those with increased rates. This, the scientists believe, is likely due to early detection due to better screening, advances in treatment, or both.

“The five-year survival rate for pancreatic cancer in young adults increased significantly from 16.5% in 2000 to 37.2% in 2016,” Liu told Healthline. 

Sean Devlin, MD, chief medical officer for Brio-Medical, not involved in the study, told Healthline the silver lining is awareness.

“Further work and funding for earlier screening should be instituted in an effort to catch these diseases in a timely manner so that they can be adequately treated with the tools that we have,” Devlin said.

Takeaway

The incidence rate of 17 cancers and the mortality rate of five cancers is higher in Gen Xers and Millennials than in older generations, a new study reported. These increases are probably due to overweight, obesity, the Western diet, changes in the gut microbiome, and environmental toxins.

• A new study has found a link between processed red meat and dementia risk.
• However, nuts and legumes appeared to protect against dementia.
• The saturated fat and preservatives in processed meats might contribute to this risk.
• Nutrients found in nuts and legumes, on the other hand, might protect brain health.
• Experts suggest replacing processed red meat with healthier swaps like beans.

Eating at least one-quarter serving per day of processed red meats — such as hot dogs, lunch meat, and bacon — is linked to a greater risk of developing dementia.

This finding, presented on July 31 at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Philadelphia, is based on a comparison with those eating less than one-tenth of a serving per day (equivalent to about three servings per month).

Additionally, the findings of the study suggested that a serving-for-serving replacement of processed red meats with plant foods like nuts, beans and legumes, and peas could help ameliorate dementia risk.

The Alzheimer’s Association describes dementia as an umbrella term for the loss of a person’s cognitive abilities — including memory, language, and problem-solving — that is severe enough to interfere with a person’s day-to-day functioning. This neurodegenerative condition occurs when brain cells become damaged and can no longer function properly.

Processed red meat raises dementia risk

To study how processed red meat influenced dementia risk, the team of scientists examined over 130,000 people who had participated in the Nurses’ Health Study and Health Professionals Follow-Up Study.

After following them for as long as 43 years, they found that 11,173 had gone on to develop dementia.

They were able to track what study participants ate by using food-frequency questionnaires that were done every two to four years. The questionnaires asked about how often people ate a serving of certain foods, including processed red meats and various nuts and legumes.

When the people who ate one-quarter serving or more of processed red meat daily were compared with those who ate less than one-tenth of a serving daily, they were found to have a 14% greater risk of dementia.

Additionally, the team looked at cognition in 17,458 people, finding that each added daily serving of processed red meat was associated with greater cognitive aging when it came to overall function and people’s ability to remember and understand language.

On the other hand, substituting nuts and legumes for processed red meat was associated with a 20% lower risk of dementia as well as fewer years of cognitive aging.

These findings highlight the benefits of a diverse diet to help reduce the risk of cognitive decline.

Why might processed red meat cause dementia

Sham Singh, MD, a psychiatrist at Winit Clinic, who was not involved in the study, described the possible mechanisms that might underlie the link between processed red meat and dementia risk. He said the saturated fat and cholesterol content in foods like sausages and bacon are one way that these meats could play a role.

“Excessive intake of saturated fats can lead to the buildup of cholesterol plaques in the arteries, contributing to atherosclerosis and impairing blood flow to the brain,” Singh told Healthline.

“This reduction in blood flow can hinder the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to brain cells, potentially accelerating cognitive decline and increasing the risk of dementia.”

Singh further pointed to the cardiovascular impact of red meat consumption.

“According to my observations, the consumption of red meat has been strongly associated with cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension, coronary artery disease, and stroke,” he stated. “These conditions are related to vascular damage and inflammation throughout the body, including the brain.”

Chronic inflammation and vascular dysfunction can contribute to causing dementia, Singh added.

Finally, he discussed how cooking meat at high temperatures, whether you are grilling, frying, or broiling red meat, can form harmful compounds like heterocyclic amines (HCAs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).

“These compounds are known to induce oxidative stress and inflammation in the body, including the brain,” Singh said. “Oxidative stress contributes to cellular damage and accelerates aging processes, which are implicated in neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and dementia.”

Varsha Khatri, a certified nutritionist at Prowise Healthcare, not involved in the study, agreed. She further noted that substances like nitrates and nitrites as well as preservatives found in processed red meats can form potentially harmful compounds in the body that might also increase dementia risk.

Nuts and legumes may preserve brain health

As the study indicated, replacing processed red meat with nuts and legumes could lower your dementia risk.

“Nuts and beans have important nutrients and antioxidants that support brain health,” Vashtri said.

She noted these foods contain healthy fats like omega-3 fatty acids. These are anti-inflammatory and they aid in maintaining healthy cell membranes in the brain.

Vashtri added that the fiber, vitamins, and minerals found in nuts and beans help to improve the health of our heart and blood vessels, which also reduces dementia risk by promoting better blood flow to the brain.

“Moreover, these plant-based foods also abound with polyphenols among other antioxidants needed to fight against oxidative stress; a key cause of dementia development,” she said.

Getting more nuts and legumes in your diet

To reap the benefits of eating more nuts and legumes, Vashtri advised starting slowly as you incorporate more of these foods into your meals.

Some practical steps you can take include:

• replacing the red meat in your recipes with beans
• eating nuts as snacks
• including more plant-based meals in your weekly menu
• making new recipes that feature nuts and legumes

Finally, Vashtri suggests doing your homework and being prepared to use these ingredients in your food preparation.

“Learn about the health advantages provided by nuts and beans then ensure that you have enough stock for when you need to cook or snack on them,” she said.

Takeaway

A new study found that eating more processed red meat was associated with a greater risk for dementia. However, replacing processed red meat with nuts and legumes was linked to a reduced risk for the condition.

Substances found in processed red meat like saturated fat, cholesterol, and preservatives might contribute to dementia risk through various mechanisms. Nuts and legumes contain nutrients that can protect brain and cardiovascular health.

Start slowly and gradually replace the red meat in your diet with nuts and beans to help reduce your risk of cognitive decline.

• The FDA has approved a new colorectal cancer blood test by Guardant Health for Medicare coverage.
• The test, called Shield, looks for “free-floating” fragments of cancer DNA in the bloodstream.
• The Shield test also offers accessibility and convenience at the cost of reduced accuracy.
• The ECLIPSE clinical trial, which preceded the FDA approval, found that the test accurately confirmed 83.1% of colorectal cancer cases.

A new blood test for colorectal cancer was approved this week by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), making it the first test of its kind to meet requirements for Medicare coverage.

Guardant Health’s blood test, called Shield, is a noninvasive blood test that is touted as a simple, convenient alternative to other forms of colorectal cancer (CRC) screening. 

Colon cancer screening is a notoriously tricky issue: fewer than 60% of adults in the United States ages 45 and 75 receive screening for the disease, despite it being the second-leading cause of all cancer-related deaths. Yet colorectal cancer is highly treatable when detected early.

Hesitancy around colorectal cancer screening may stem from the belief that colonoscopies and stool-based tests are onerous or unpleasant. However, finding a non-invasive colorectal cancer screening test that is both accurate and noninvasive has proved challenging. 

“The persistent gap in colorectal cancer screening rates shows that the existing screening options do not appeal to millions of people,” Daniel Chung, MD, a gastroenterologist at Massachusetts General Hospital and professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School said in a press release from Guardant Health.

“The FDA’s approval of the Shield blood test marks a tremendous leap forward, offering a compelling new solution to close this gap. This decision will help make screening tests more broadly accessible and propel blood-based testing and CRC screening into a new era,” Chung continued.

Can a blood test for colon cancer replace a colonoscopy?

Shield’s greater ease of use comes with a not-insignificant trade-off in screening accuracy.

Medical professionals contacted by Healthline said that the potential for missed diagnoses is concerning and that the test should not be viewed as a replacement for a colonoscopy.

“Most of us look at these types of tests as adjuncts or ‘helper’ tests to get more people screened and then possibly get more colonoscopies if they were positive,” Ben Park, MD, PhD, director of the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center at Vanderbilt University, told Healthline. Park was not affiliated with the Shield research but disclosed that he is currently engaged in separate clinical trials involving Guardant Health.

“The danger of these types of tests is if they’re negative, they’re not necessarily really negative,” Park said.

There is a shared sense of enthusiasm among doctors about the potential for Shield to get more people screened for colorectal cancer more frequently. But exactly how the test will fit into current recommendations is less clear. 

“The gold standard is still very much the colonoscopy. So, I would be cautious counseling patients that we don’t see this as an equal alternative to colonoscopy,” Christopher Chen, MD, an assistant professor of oncology and director of the Early Drug Development at the Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford Medicine, told Healthline.

Uri Ladabaum, MD, director of the Gastrointestinal Cancer Prevention Program at Stanford Medicine told Healthline, “Guardant Shield is expected to have substantial net benefit if it extends CRC screening to persons who are unwilling or unable to undergo screening colonoscopy or stool-based screening.”

However, if Guardant Health’s Shield were to substitute for screening colonoscopy or stool-based screening in those willing to use them, this is expected to worsen outcomes,” Ladabaum noted.

Blood test detects colon cancer with 83% accuracy

The approval of Shield arrives on the back of the ECLIPSE trial, the results of which were published in the New England Journal of Medicine in March 2024.

The trial included nearly 8,000 participants between the ages of 45 and 84. Shield is what’s known as a cell-free DNA test (cfDNA test), which looks for “free-floating” DNA molecules that are shed by cancer cells into the bloodstream.

The ECLIPSE trial found that in patients with CRC, confirmed by a colonoscopy, Shield accurately identified the cancer in 83.1% of cases. That means a significant number of participants with CRC (16.9%) received a false negative test result.

“You may not think that sounds like a big number, but when you translate it into the hundreds of thousands of patients who get diagnosed with colon cancer every year in this country alone, that is a significant number,” Park said.

“It could meaningfully risk missing a significant number of diagnoses,” Chen noted.

The concern for doctors is what happens when someone gets a false negative test result who isn’t regularly getting a colonoscopy as well. 

“That’s where the potential danger is where, you know, we could potentially be giving false security or senses of security,” Park said.

The test also doesn’t test for pre-cancerous lesions, only detecting them in about 13% of cases. It is therefore not regarded as a preventive screen, since it only detects cancer that is already present.

Despite these caveats, the test represents a new opportunity to increase screening and adherence for a dangerous, pervasive form of cancer. But its true value will be found in expanding screening as an adjunct to colonoscopy, not replacing it.

The takeaway

A blood test for colorectal cancer, Guardant Health’s Shield, has just been approved by the FDA for Medicare coverage, putting the test in reach of many more people in the U.S. at risk for developing the disease.

The blood test is a convenient, non-invasive alternative to other forms of colorectal cancer screening that are perceived as time-consuming or unpleasant.

Doctors caution that the test should not be viewed as a replacement for the “gold standard” colonoscopy, but rather an adjunct test that can help to accommodate certain patients who might not otherwise be screened.

As we move into autumn, protection from any earlier COVID-19 vaccination you may have had will be starting to wane. For those who are more likely to become seriously ill from COVID-19, the NHS offers a free vaccine in the …

• A new study has linked sugar consumption with signs of biological aging.
• Researchers observed how diet and sugar affected the epigenetic age of Black and white women in midlife.
• Epigenetic age is not the same as chronological age and is indicative of how behavioral and environmental factors affect “wear and tear” on the body at a cellular level.

In one of the first studies to do so, scientists have linked dietary sugar intake to epigenetic (also referred to as biological) aging.

Excess sugar consumption is already known to increase the risk of chronic disease; now, it also appears to speed up signs of aging at a cellular level. The findings were published in the journal JAMA Network Open.

Researchers also examined the impact of a healthy diet on epigenetic markers and found the opposite effect: a higher-quality diet slowed the signs of aging.

The inverse effects also appear to be independent of one another, so diet and sugar consumption should both be evaluated in a dietary context for their effects on health and aging.

“Our findings appear to fit well with the general nutritional epidemiology literature that finds added sugars to be related to chronic diseases such as cardiometabolic conditions and cancer and related processes such as inflammation, all of which track with aging and are one manifestation of wear and tear on our bodies over time,” Dorothy Chiu, PhD, a Postdoctoral Scholar at the UCSF Osher Center for Integrative Health, and first author of the study, told Healthline.

Heidi J. Silver, PhD, RD, a Research Professor of Medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center who wasn’t affiliated with the study, told Healthline, “While the current studies do not show cause and effect, improving overall quality of the diet might contribute to slowing age or environmentally-related epigenetic changes.”

Sugar speeds up the body’s epigenetic “clock”

Chiu and her team investigated a cohort of 342 women in midlife. Importantly, the cohort was evenly split among Black (171) and white (171), and composed of individuals from different socioeconomic backgrounds. Prior scientific studies on diet and epigenetics have historically been limited to white individuals, making them hard to generalize to a broader population.

The participants were selected as part of the NGHS study, originally commissioned in the 1980s to study cardiovascular health in white and Black females between the ages of 9 and 19. The same group was then recruited again between 2015 and 2019 when all of the women had entered midlife — the average age being 39.

To assess the role of diet and sugar on epigenetic age, researchers first utilized a number of indices to gauge diet quality. These included the aMED Index, which scores a diet based on how closely it adheres to the Mediterranean diet, and the Alternative Healthy Eating Index.

Researchers then compared scores from these dietary indices to a novel epigenetic clock known as GrimAge2. GrimAge2, like other epigenetic clocks, relies on interpreting DNA methylation, a natural process that affects gene expression.

“DNA methylation (DNAm) is one way genes are modified and are turned on and off. It is used as a reliable indicator of epigenetic age because these patterns in DNAm have been observed to accumulate over time and are related to biological age,” said Chiu.

Researchers anticipated that a higher quality diet would slow signs of epigenetic aging, while sugar consumption would do the opposite. They were right.

However, interestingly, the effects of a healthy diet showed a far more significant response compared to sugar intake.

“Since the authors found a stronger association with diet quality and epigenetic age, it would be wiser to focus on the overall quality of the diet. Reducing added sugars intake would be one way to improve diet quality, especially if those calories are replaced with other ways to increase diet quality,” said Silver.

What is epigenetic age?

Chiu’s research is part of a growing field known as geroscience, which seeks to understand in scientific terms how aging, disease, and biology are all related. One of the important distinctions made in the field is between chronological age and biological or epigenetic age. 

When you celebrate your birthday, that’s representative of your chronological age; one year is the same amount of time for everyone. However, epigenetic age indicates the health of your body at a cellular level, and it doesn’t move at the same rate for everyone. 

Epigenetics refers to the impact that behavioral and environmental factors have on the age of your body.

For example, the epigenetic age of someone who eats healthy and exercises every day may increase more slowly than someone who is sedentary and consumes high amounts of sugar.

Epigenetic changes are also reversible, which means that your behavior, diet, and exercise can affect the aging process for better or worse.

“Epigenetic age reflects modifications of our genetic material or DNA that can result in changes in our gene and protein expression,” said Chiu.

 “These modifications end up turning genes on or off, which can have health implications depending on how the biological functions and physiology of our cells and systems are impacted,” she said.

The bottom line

Among a cohort of Black and white women in midlife, sugar intake and diet quality were predictors of epigenetic aging.

A healthy diet appears to slow the body’s biological “clock,” while consuming sugar does the opposite.

The role of diet in epigenetic aging is part of the growing field of geroscience, which seeks to understand scientifically how biology, diet, aging, and disease are all related.