Taurine may not be an important driving force for aging

The amino acid -taurine was once assumed to fall with age, and animal research suggested that taurine could delay aging. But a new study shows that the decline is not happening constantly. In fact, taurine levels tend to rise in humans over time, suggesting that low levels of the nutrient are not a driving force for aging.

Previous research has shown that taurine concentrations fall in men’s asy age and that people with high taurine levels at 60 years tend to have better health results. This, along with proof that taurine supplement is expanding the life of mice and monkeys, suggested making taurine contributors for aging.

The problem is that taurine fluctuates in responsible for other factors as well, such as illness, stress and diet – therefore due to decrease in this key acid may not be aging. Maria Emilia Fernandez at the National Institute on Aging in Maryland and her colleagues analyzed taurine levels in 742 people between 26 and 100 years old. The participants, about half of whom were women, did not have underlying health conditions and delivered three to five blood tests between January 2006 and October 2018.

On average, taurine levels were almost 27 percent higher in women of 100 years old than at 26 years old and increased approx. 6 percent in men aged 30 and 97 years. Similar results were seen in 32 monkeys that underwent three to seven blood -drawn 3 and 32 years. Between 5 and 30 years, taurine levels rose 72 percent in female monkeys and 27 percent in male monkeys on average.

Together, these findings indicate that taurine levels are not a reliable indication of age. In addition, taurine levels also varied widely between people and even within individuals over time, suggesting that other environmental factors affect them, Fernandez says.

However, some people may still benefit from taurine supplements, Fernandez says, pointing to studies showing that it helps regulate blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes or obesity. But what it can delay aging in otherwise healthy people is an open question.

Vijay Yadav at Rutgers University in New Jersey says he and his colleagues are currently conducting a clinical trial of taurine supplements in middle -aged adults. “We jump to end the trial by the end of 2025,” he says. “Hopefully, it will generate sufficient strict data to show whow or not taurine suurine supplements delay people’s pace or increase health and fitness.