A new study out of the University of California has uncovered evidence linking soda consumption to shortened life spans.

Past research has linked soda to a variety of health complications, including increased risk of heart disease, cancer, diabetes, obesity and strokes. Drinking 20 ounces of soda a day has been linked to a 20 percent hike in the risk of heart attack in men. The sugar in soda has also been linked to issues such as obesity and problems with memory and other areas of cognition.

Adding to this research, the new study has found a link between soda’s effects on the body and the amount of time a person can expect to live. This one is in the telomeres, protective caps of DNA found in chromosomes that have been associated with lifespan expectancies. According to the scientists involved, soda causes these telomeres to shorten, which indicates a reduced span of life.

Shorter telomeres are thought to be indicators of health problems such as cancer, diabetes and heart disease as well.

By their calculations, drinking a 20 ounce soda each day can shorten a person’s life by almost five years. Though their research was conducted on adults, the research team thinks that this shortening could begin in childhood, leading to shorter life spans and greater risk of chronic health complications.

Though this is the first study where the connection between soda and telomeres was explored, there is other research that supports that soda shortens lives. A study published in 2010 found that mice with high levels of phosphorous in their systems had their lives shortened by almost 25 percent. Phosphorous is find in high amounts in dark colas.