Taurine: The Jury's Still Out On Hyperbolic Claims About Aging and Other Health Effects

​Taurine, a semi-essential micronutrient, is one of humans and other animals' most abundant amino acids. Many studies demonstrate that taurine levels are correlated with health status, with the most interesting being the association between high taurine levels and health and lifespan. This cheap amino acid is tailor-made for the supplement industry, which has been quick to cash in on the taurine craze. This investigation provides meta-studies results and discusses the wisdom of taurine supplementation.

Many Energy Drinks Contain Taurine Claiming It Encourages Better Athletic Performance

Meta-study analyses provide intriguing results:

• Ingesting taurine in varying amounts can improve human endurance performance.
• Taurine intake was associated with a decrease in blood pressure.
• Taurine ingestion was associated with decreases in total cholesterol and triglycerides.
• Taurine administration was not associated with body mass index and body weight.
• A statistically significant reduction in HbA1C and Fasting Blood Sugar after oral supplemental taurine for diabetic patients was more substantial than that of a placebo.
• Taurine has modulatory effects on inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers.
• Taurine supplementation positively affects multiple metabolic syndrome-related factors, making it a potential dietary addition for individuals at risk of or already experiencing metabolic syndrome.
• Taurine enhances the effects of anticancer drugs while also reducing side effects.
• Taurine has anti-atherosclerotic and anti-thrombotic effects that may protect against cardiovascular disease.
• Taurine abundance decreases during aging, reversing this by taurine supplementation increases the health and life span in mice and worms.

​While the human body can synthesize taurine, dietary intake is essential to maintain optimal levels. Foods rich in taurine include meat, fish, poultry, and dairy products. Due to their dietary restrictions, vegetarians and vegans may have a lower taurine intake. 

Taurine Product Making Hyperbolic Claims

Taurine may have a crucial role in cardiovascular physiology. Numerous studies have investigated the potential cardioprotective effects of taurine, focusing on its impact on blood pressure, cardiac contractility, and vascular function. It may help reduce blood pressure in individuals with hypertension and improve endothelial function, leading to enhanced vascular health.

Preclinical investigations have provided valuable insights into the cardiovascular effects of taurine. In hypertension, heart failure, and atherosclerosis models, taurine supplementation has consistently improved cardiac function, reduced blood pressure, and enhanced vascular health. Human studies investigating taurine's cardiovascular effects have also yielded promising results. Clinical trials indicate it may help reduce blood pressure, improve left ventricular function, and enhance exercise capacity in individuals with heart failure. Its antioxidant properties may also reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis and heart failure.

The endothelium, a single layer of cells lining the blood vessels, plays a crucial role in vascular health. Taurine may enhance endothelial function by promoting the creation of nitric oxide (NO) and easing endothelial dysfunction. Enhanced endothelial function contributes to better vascular relaxation, reduced inflammation, and improved blood flow, which may benefit cardiovascular health and reduce the risk of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular events.

Taurine abundance decreases during aging. Reversing this decline through taurine supplementation increases mice and worms' health and life spans. This identifies taurine deficiency as a driver of aging in these species.

Aging is associated with changes in circulating levels of various molecules, including taurine. Scientists demonstrated that circulating taurine declines with aging in mice, monkeys, and humans. Reversing this decline by dosing with taurine increased the health span (the period of healthy living), life span in mice, and health span in monkeys.

Taurine reduced cellular agedness, defended against telomerase deficiency, stifled mitochondrial dysfunction, decreased DNA damage, and reduced inflammation. In humans, lower taurine concentrations correlate with age-related diseases, and taurine concentrations increase after acute endurance exercise. Thus, taurine deficiency may be a driver of aging because its reversal increases the health span in worms, rodents, and primates and the life span in worms and rodents. Clinical trials in humans seem warranted to assess whether taurine deficiency might drive human aging.

Manufacturers market taurine as an adjunct in various products and supplements. People afflicted with different ailments induced by modern society snap it up to improve health. While dosing with taurine makes logical sense, one might consider other factors.

The most glaring weakness in the puffery about taurine is that there are few human studies and even fewer double-blind placebo-controlled evaluations.  In other words, the statistician’s mantra that correlation is not causation applies.
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A number of factors are empirically proven to improve health markedly. Stress reduction, exercise, strength training, a whole foods diet, avoiding alcohol, tobacco, ultra-processed food, and a good night's sleep will often almost immediately improve a person's health and well-being. Taurine supplementation without a prudent and healthy lifestyle seems pointless and wastes time and money.