A supplement that has become a popular health and beauty trend may not actually live up to the hype surrounding it. With tens of thousands of related posts on TikTok and Instagram, taurine has found new popularity among influencers, with many claiming it can slow down the aging process.
However, a new study shows that’s not necessarily true.
Unbiased. Straight Facts.TM
While the body naturally makes small amounts of taurine, it mostly comes from eating meat, shellfish and dairy products.
What is taurine?
Taurine is an amino acid that plays multiple roles in the body, like supporting immune health and nervous system function.
The human body can make small amounts of taurine, but people get more from food — mostly meat and shellfish. Dairy products have small amounts of the nutrient, and it is a common ingredient in energy drinks and bars.
What did the study find?
Until now, taurine has gotten a reputation as a potential “elixir of life.”
A 2023 study out of Columbia University found taurine levels in animals — including humans — decline as they get older. It also found that taking taurine supplements slowed the aging process in worms, mice and monkeys — however, it was not tested on humans.
A study released on June 5 from Science contradicts that 2023 research. Researchers with the National Institutes of Health found people’s taurine levels did not decrease with age, and some adults even saw an increase.
Scientists also found that taurine levels varied among participants, but these differences were influenced more by factors such as sex and species than by aging itself.
Experts said this contradiction suggests that measuring someone’s taurine levels doesn’t provide a clear indication of longevity and raises questions about whether supplements are effective. The researchers behind this study are now conducting additional research to see if they do.
Is taurine still beneficial?
While it’s now unclear what role taurine plays in the aging process, if any, it does still have health benefits.
Taurine is a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. It supports digestion, energy production, immune response, neurological development, brain function, eyesight, nerve and muscle conduction and more.
