Taurine may not be a key driver of ageing after all

The amino acid taurine was once believed to decrease with age, leading to the hypothesis that taurine supplements could potentially slow down the ageing process. However, a recent study has revealed that the decline in taurine levels is not consistent. In fact, taurine levels tend to increase in individuals over time, suggesting that low levels of this nutrient may not be a determining factor in ageing.

Previous studies indicated that taurine concentrations decrease in men as they grow older, and individuals with higher taurine levels at the age of 60 generally experience better health outcomes. This, coupled with research showcasing that taurine supplements can extend the lifespan of mice and monkeys, initially supported the idea that low taurine levels could contribute to the ageing process.

However, taurine levels can fluctuate in response to various factors such as illness, stress, and diet, indicating that declines in this amino acid may not be solely attributed to ageing. Maria Emilia Fernandez from the National Institute on Aging in Maryland and her team conducted a study analyzing taurine levels in 742 individuals aged between 26 and 100 years. These participants, half of whom were women, were free from underlying health conditions and provided multiple blood samples between January 2006 and October 2018.

The results showed that, on average, taurine levels were nearly 27% higher in women at the age of 100 compared to when they were 26 years old, and increased by approximately 6% in men between the ages of 30 and 97. A similar trend was observed in 32 monkeys that underwent several blood draws between the ages of 3 and 32. In female monkeys aged between 5 and 30, taurine levels rose by 72%, while in male monkeys, it increased by 27% on average.

These findings suggest that taurine levels may not serve as a reliable indicator of ageing. Furthermore, taurine levels displayed significant variability among individuals and even within the same individual over time, indicating that other external factors may influence them, as highlighted by Fernandez.

Despite this, some individuals could still benefit from taurine supplementation, particularly in cases where it helps regulate blood sugar in individuals with type 2 diabetes or obesity. However, the question of whether taurine supplementation can effectively delay ageing in otherwise healthy individuals remains unanswered.

Vijay Yadav from Rutgers University in New Jersey mentioned that he and his team are currently conducting a clinical trial on taurine supplementation in middle-aged adults, with the aim of completing the trial by the end of 2025. The study intends to provide robust data on whether taurine supplementation can slow down the ageing process in humans or enhance overall health and fitness.