A recent study from Columbia University, involving aging researchers from around the world, has suggested that taurine, a nutrient also found in many energy drinks, may be a driver of aging in animals. The research found that the levels of taurine decrease with age, suggesting that taurine deficiency could contribute to the aging process in humans. Researchers found that supplementing taurine in worms, mice, and monkeys could help slow down the aging process and extend healthy lifespan. Middle-aged mice who were administered taurine supplements showed a 12% increase in healthy lifespan. Furthermore, other researchers found that taurine could help to improve health and lifespan in several species.
Understanding the Science:
The past 25 years have seen aging researchers searching for ways to increase our healthy life-spans. However, not all ageing markers have therefore been considered aging drivers, with scientists questioning whether markers are simply passengers or whether they actively stimulate aging. By restoring youthful levels of known drivers of aging, there is the promise of delaying aging and increasing healthspan.
Taurine is a nutrient produced in our bodies and is found in many foods. It came to be a focus for researchers from Columbia University given its impact on osteoporosis, suggesting that taurine has an important role in building bone. Interestingly, taurine was found to be associated with immune function, obesity, and nervous system functions.
The research found that taurine levels in the bloodstream decreased significantly with age, leading researchers to question whether taurine deficiency could be a driver of the aging process. With close to 250 14-month-old female and male mice (45 years old in human terms) used in experiments, Yadav’s team found that taurine increased average lifespan by 12% in female mice and 10% in male mice.
Taurine in Middle-Aged Animals:
Research in middle-aged animals discussed the impact of taurine on health and lifespan in several species. Researchers found that taurine helped to suppress age-associated weight gain in female mice, increased energy expenditure, increased bone mass, improved muscle endurance and strength, reduced depression-like and anxious behaviors, reduced insulin resistance, promoted a younger-looking immune system, and brought about significant other benefits.
In one test, middle-aged rhesus monkeys given daily taurine supplements for six months found that taurine prevented weight gain, reduced fasting blood glucose and markers of liver damage, increased bone density in the spine and legs and improved the health of their immune systems.
Human Trials Required:
Two staged experiments conducted by the researchers found that people with higher taurine levels also had fewer cases of type 2 diabetes, lower obesity levels, lower levels of hypertension, and lower levels of inflammation. These findings demonstrate the possibility that taurine deficiency contributes to human aging.
With taurine found to have no known toxic effects, naturally produced in our bodies and obtained naturally in our diets, Yadav suggests it could be considered as an anti-aging drug. Additionally, the researchers found that taurine levels are increased by exercise.
However, despite these findings, it’s still early days, and human trials are required to confirm the potential benefits of taurine. Trials for taurine are currently underway for obesity, although none are designed to measure a range of health parameters. Other potential anti-aging drugs are being considered for testing in regular clinical trials, but Yadav feels that given the significant advantages, taurine should also be considered seriously.
