Can Taurine Potentially Slow Down Aging in Humans as Well?

A recent study published in Science on June 9th reports that taurine, an amino acid found in energy drinks and baby formula, can improve the health and extend the lifespan of mice, worms, and middle-aged monkeys. Taurine is also naturally produced in the human body and commonly found in meats. However, it is unclear whether additional taurine intake can slow aging or benefit humans, though the study did find a correlation between lower levels of the amino acid and medical conditions such as obesity and diabetes.

The study's results, which took 11 years to produce, focused on taurine because scientists have identified that its levels decrease as organisms age. Unlike other amino acids, taurine does not contribute to protein synthesis but is instead believed to play a myriad of roles, including promoting eye health and digestion during brain development. Molecular physiologist, Vijay Yadav and his team at Columbia University found that mice given extra taurine had a median lifespan extension of 10 to 12%, while worms that were administered the amino acid also showed an increase in lifespan.

Taurine was also connected to improvements in health for mice and female monkeys. Experimentally, mice administered taurine showed enhanced bone strength, muscle coordination, and memory, with a similar effect seen in female monkeys. Monkeys that were given taurine even weighed less, had denser bones, and showed better metabolic health than those that were not given the amino acid. However, while the mouse studies used levels of taurine equivalent to 3-6 grams for an adult human per day, a typical energy drink only contains 1 gram of taurine.

New York-based Yadav and his colleagues also found that low levels of taurine were present in individuals with obesity or diabetes. Still, they caution that these links are only correlations, and it is not yet known whether low taurine levels can cause these medical conditions. Additionally, Yadav warns that while there are no apparent risks to consuming taurine, long-term studies with high doses have not been performed on humans.

The study has received praise for its promising approach to extending both health-span and lifespan in animals, yet many scientists note that the complexity of aging means there is likely no singular fountain of youth. Finkel notes that "there are going to be many tributaries of youth," and it remains to be seen if taurine can work similarly across different species and ultimately benefit humans.