New study raises big questions about taurine as anti-aging supplement | Live Science
Is taurine really the secret to slowing down aging? A new study says – not yet.
Taurine, a naturally occurring amino acid often marketed as an anti-aging supplement, has gained attention for its potential to extend lifespan and improve health. However, a new study published on June 5 in the journal Science is challenging this growing hype.
Taurine and the Aging Myth
Taurine is found in various foods and is also produced by the human body. Some early studies, mainly on animals, suggested that declining taurine levels could be a key cause of aging. As a result, taurine supplements have been promoted as a possible way to slow down the aging process.
But the latest research, involving human and animal blood samples, paints a different picture.
Key Findings from the Study
- Taurine levels do not decline with age.
The study analyzed blood samples from humans aged 20 to 100, as well as monkeys and mice. Contrary to earlier beliefs, taurine levels either increased or remained stable over time. - Individual variation was higher than age-based changes.
According to Maria Emilia Fernandez, a postdoctoral fellow at the National Institute on Aging, taurine levels varied more between individuals than they did with aging. This suggests taurine is not a reliable marker of aging. - No consistent link to age-related health markers.
Researchers looked for connections between taurine and aging symptoms like muscle loss but found inconsistent results.
Why Taurine May Still Be Worth Studying
Despite this new evidence, scientists aren’t dismissing taurine entirely. Some older studies have shown that taurine supplementation improved health markers in middle-aged mice, such as:
- Better sugar metabolism
- Reduced DNA damage
- Increased lifespan (in mice)
These findings are encouraging, but they haven’t been replicated in large-scale human trials yet.
Complexity of Taurine in the Human Body
Taurine levels naturally vary based on health conditions. For example:
- Obesity: Lower taurine in mild obesity; higher in severe obesity
- Cancer: Increased levels in leukemia; decreased in breast cancer
Taurine is also involved in many essential functions, including:
- Supporting bile salts for fat digestion
- Enhancing antioxidant defenses
- Assisting mitochondrial health (your cells’ energy source)
Because of these many roles, scientists caution against using taurine levels as a simple diagnostic tool for aging or disease.
What Experts Are Saying
“A decline in taurine is not a universal feature of aging,” said Joseph Baur, a physiology professor at the University of Pennsylvania.
“We need more rigorous clinical trials before taurine can be considered a reliable anti-aging therapy,” added Rafael de Cabo, co-author and chief of the Translational Gerontology Branch at NIA.
Ongoing Research: The Future of Taurine Supplements
Vijay Yadav, a researcher at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, is currently leading a clinical trial to evaluate if daily taurine supplementation affects aging in middle-aged adults.
The results could finally answer whether taurine has any meaningful anti-aging effects in humans.
Until then, experts agree: There is no clinical proof that taurine supplements slow aging in people.
Bottom Line
While taurine supplements have shown some promise in animal studies, the latest human-centered research suggests taurine is not a reliable biomarker for aging. Its levels don’t consistently decline with age, and its impact on age-related conditions remains unclear.
However, scientists continue to explore taurine’s many roles in the body and its possible future applications.
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