The IAA One Minute Blog

Taurine is an amino acid used as a supplement in those energy drinks touted to promote sharper brain function. Those claims are unproven, but research does suggest the nutrient may help with healthy aging.

Taurine and Healthy Aging

Scientists report that supplementing with the nutrient may slow the aging process down in animals, leading to longer, healthier lives in animals and maybe humans too.

Research showed that taurine levels declined dramatically with age in mice, monkeys and humans. No one yet knows why. In experiments with mice and monkeys, researchers found that supplementing middle-aged animals led to better health.

In mice, the supplementation led to less weight gain, increased bone density, improved muscle endurance and strength, reduced insulin resistance, a better-functioning immune system, and a 10 percent longer lifespan.

In monkeys, supplementation prevented age-related weight gain, improved fasting blood sugar levels, increased bone density, and led to healthier lives, and improved immune system function.

Examining data from the University of Cambridges’ EPIC-Norfolk study, which from 1993 to 1998 tracked health, diet and physical activity of 30,000 men and women ages 40 to 79, the researchers found that, overall, people with higher taurine levels were healthier. They had lower levels of inflammation and were less likely to have Type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure or to be obese.

In another finding, the researchers discovered an association between the amount people exercise and their taurine levels. Researchers discovered that taurine levels rise with exercise.     

What is Taurine?

Taurine is an essential amino acid that helps with things like your digestive, cardiovascular, skeletal, muscular, and nervous system functions.

While the human body can make small amounts of taurine, people mostly get it through food. Shellfish, dark chicken and turkey meat, contain the highest levels of taurine. Also, dairy products and seaweed.

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