Does Taurine Slow Aging?

Taurine, which occurs naturally in foods with protein, such as meat or fish, is considered a safe drink ingredient in the United States. The human body uses taurine for actions in cells - such as producing energy, processing bile acid, and balancing fluids, salts, and minerals. Some health benefits to taurine are improved blood sugar balance (by lowering fasting blood sugar levels), heart health (by lowering blood pressure), and exercise performance (by minimizing muscle damage and fatigue during workouts). Now, new research suggests the nutrient may help with healthy aging.

Study co-author Dr. Vijay Yadav, an assistant professor of genetics and development at the Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons (the medical school for Columbia University in New York City) and his colleagues showed that taurine levels declined dramatically with age in mice, monkeys, and humans. They do not yet know why levels of the nutrient decline as much as 80% with age. In experiments with mice and monkeys, the researchers found that supplementing middle-age animals led to better health.

Dr. Yadav was quick to point out that supplementing taurine will not reverse the effects of aging, but rather "[it is] hitting the brakes on aging." The researchers noted results such as reduced weight gain, a better functioning immune system, increased bone density, and about 10% lifespan increase.

Scientists and researchers have always tried to find ways to help humans live longer. Now they are also working on improving health span - the amount of time we remain healthy in our old age. The new study "provides one more piece of evidence that dietary alterations can have an impact on aging and aging-related pathologies," said Dr. Douglas Vaughan, the chair of medicine at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, who was not associated with the new research.

In another intriguing finding, the researchers discovered an association between the amount people exercise and their taurine levels. Scrutinizing data from the EPIC-Norfolk study, the researchers discovered that taurine levels rise with exercise.

You may have noticed that energy drinks, such as Red Bull, contain taurine. Many studies have been conducted on the effects of drinking energy drinks, but since those drinks usually contain caffeine, herbal stimulants, and/or sugar in addition to taurine, it is hard to isolate the effects of taurine purely from energy drinks. Some research has shown that taurine may be more of a nootropic (a diverse group of substances whose actions can improve thinking, learning, and memory) instead of an energy enhancer. Thus energy drink companies combine taurine (for "focus") with caffeine (for "endurance") to create their version of energy.

It is important to note that this research was done in mice, monkeys, and worms - not humans. So a randomized clinical trial would be needed to know if taurine supplements would improve health or increase longevity in humans. But these new experimental results show that taurine has potential!