Can Taurine Prolong Aging?

Here’s What the Latest Research Indicates

As the demand for anti-aging supplements grows, researchers are increasingly scrutinizing promising options to validate their claims with scientific evidence.
According to a recent study conducted by Columbia researchers in collaboration with numerous aging researchers worldwide, a deficiency of taurine—a nutrient naturally produced in the body and found in various foods—has been identified as a driver of aging in animals.
Furthermore, the study suggests that taurine supplements may decelerate the aging process in worms, mice, and monkeys, potentially extending the healthy lifespans of middle-aged mice by up to 12%.

Humans naturally produce taurine primarily in the brain, heart, and reproductive organs, with additional sources available through the consumption of meat, fish, and eggs. While athletes have long recognized taurine’s ability to enhance energy and performance, and it has been included in obesity treatment regimens, its impact on aging has only recently come into focus.

For the past 25 years, scientists have been striving to identify factors that not only extend lifespan but also enhance healthspan—the duration of healthy living in old age,” notes Vijay Yadav, PhD, the study’s lead author and assistant professor of genetics & development at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons. “This study suggests that taurine could serve as a fountain of youth within our bodies, potentially enabling us to live longer and healthier lives.

Molecules that Combat Aging

Over the past two decades, efforts to identify interventions that improve health in old age have intensified as people are living longer, and scientists have discovered that the aging process can be manipulated.
Numerous studies have identified various molecules circulating in the bloodstream that are associated with aging. However, it remains uncertain whether these molecules actively drive the aging process or merely accompany it. If a molecule indeed influences aging, restoring its levels to those of youth could delay aging and increase healthspan.
Taurine first came to Yadav’s attention during his previous research on osteoporosis, which revealed taurine’s role in bone formation. Simultaneously, other researchers were uncovering correlations between taurine levels and immune function, obesity, and nervous system function.

“We realized that if taurine regulates all these processes that decline with age, perhaps taurine levels in the bloodstream affect overall health and lifespan,” explains Yadav.

Age-Related Decline in Taurine Levels and the Impact of Supplementation

Initially, Yadav’s team investigated taurine levels in the bloodstream of mice, monkeys, and humans, observing a significant decline in taurine abundance with age. In individuals aged 60 years, taurine levels were approximately one-third of those found in 5-year-olds.
“This prompted us to investigate whether taurine deficiency contributes to the aging process, leading to a large-scale experiment with mice,” Yadav states.
The researchers commenced the experiment with nearly 250 14-month-old female and male mice (equivalent to approximately 45 years in human terms). Half of the mice were administered a daily dose of taurine, while the other half received a control solution. Upon concluding the experiment, Yadav and his team observed a 12% increase in average lifespan among female mice and a 10% increase among males receiving taurine supplementation. For the mice, this translated to an additional three to four months of life, equivalent to approximately seven to eight human years.

Enhancing Health in Old Age through Taurine Supplementation
To assess the impact of taurine on health, Yadav collaborated with other aging researchers to investigate the effects of taurine supplementation on various species’ health and lifespan.

These experts evaluated several health parameters in mice and found that at age 2 (equivalent to 60 human years), animals supplemented with taurine for one year exhibited superior health across numerous measures compared to their untreated counterparts.
The researchers observed that taurine supplementation inhibited age-related weight gain in female mice, including those in menopause, increased energy expenditure, bolstered bone mass, enhanced muscle endurance and strength, reduced depression-like and anxious behaviors, mitigated insulin resistance, and revitalized the immune system, among other benefits.

We not only observed increased longevity in the animals but also noted that they experienced overall improved health,” Yadav remarks.
At the cellular level, taurine enhanced multiple functions typically impaired by aging: it reduced the number of “zombie cells” (senescent cells that resist apoptosis and release harmful substances), enhanced survival following telomerase deficiency, increased the abundance of stem cells in certain tissues (facilitating tissue regeneration), optimized mitochondrial function, minimized DNA damage, and enhanced nutrient sensing by cells.

Comparable health benefits of taurine supplementation were evident in middle-aged rhesus monkeys, who received daily taurine supplements for six months. Taurine supplementation prevented weight gain, lowered fasting blood glucose levels and markers of liver damage, increased spinal and leg bone density, and bolstered immune system health.

Need for Randomized Clinical Trials

Although the researchers have yet to ascertain whether taurine supplementation confers health benefits or extends longevity in humans, two conducted experiments offer promising insights.
In one study, Yadav and his team investigated the relationship between taurine levels and approximately 50 health parameters in over 12,000 European adults aged 60 and above. Overall, individuals with higher taurine levels exhibited better health, with lower incidences of type 2 diabetes, reduced obesity rates, lower hypertension prevalence, and decreased inflammation. “These findings establish associations but do not prove causation,” Yadav clarifies. “Nevertheless, the results suggest that taurine deficiency may contribute to human aging.

In another study, researchers examined whether taurine levels respond to a health-improving intervention: exercise. Taurine levels were measured before and after vigorous cycling workouts among various male athletes and sedentary individuals, revealing a significant increase in taurine levels across all groups (sprinters, endurance runners, natural bodybuilders, and sedentary individuals) post-exercise.
“Regardless of individual characteristics, all participants exhibited elevated taurine levels following exercise, indicating that some of exercise’s health benefits may stem from taurine,” Yadav suggests.
According to Yadav, only a randomized clinical trial involving humans will conclusively determine whether taurine confers health benefits. While clinical trials for taurine in obesity are currently underway, none are designed to comprehensively evaluate a wide range of health parameters.

Other potential anti-aging drugs such as metformin, rapamycin, and NAD analogs are also under consideration for clinical testing.

I believe taurine should also be considered,” Yadav asserts. “Moreover, it boasts certain advantages: taurine is naturally synthesized within our bodies, obtainable through dietary sources, has no documented toxic effects (although concentrations used in this study are rarely exceeded), and can be augmented through exercise.