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An Anti-Aging Clue
We need amino acids to survive since they’re the building blocks of proteins. Our bodies can make some amino acids while others are in the foods we eat. Scientists are studying an amino acid called Taurine, which has been shown to slow aging in animals. They’re asking whether it does the same for us.
Human 5-year-olds have three times the levels of taurine in their blood compared to sixty-year-olds. Other studies in humans suggest taurine can act as a neurotransmitter in our brain and play a role in the digestion of fats. But can it promote longevity in humans? Research has shown supplemental taurine can extend the life of worms and mice and improve the long-term health of monkeys.
Mice given taurine for a year showed improved bone mass, enhanced muscle strength, and decreased insulin resistance. Their lifespan also increased by more than 10 percent. Some of these effects were also seen in monkeys including lower stress levels and anxiety.
In a population health study on more than 10,000 European adults, those who had higher taurine levels had lower hypertension rates, obesity, and incidence of Type 2 diabetes. Can we use taurine to replicate these findings in people with lower levels of taurine? Clinical trials plan to answer that question.
We’re already ingesting taurine in food such as dairy and it’s added in some energy drinks. But we’ll have to wait to know whether spending money on taurine supplements will be worth it.
More Information
Amino acid taurine can slow aging in animals, but we don't know if it works in people
Experiments suggest that taurine, an unusual amino acid, can extend some animals' life spans, but it's unclear if it would work in humans.
Taurine may be key to a longer and healthier life
A deficiency in the nutrient taurine appears to drive aging in animals, but experts say more research is needed to determine if the same effect is found in humans. A study published in the journal Science reports that supplements of taurine slowed the aging process in monkeys, mice and worms and extended the healthy lifespan of mice in middle age by up to 12 percent.
