A study found that a type of amino acid, "taurine," is not related to aging. This contradicts previous research from two years ago that stated taurine decreases with age and serves as a biomarker for aging. Scientists advised that there is no need to take taurine supplements to prevent aging based on this new study.
Researchers at the National Institute on Aging (NIA) revealed on the 5th (local time) in the international journal Science that taurine cannot be used as a biomarker for aging. According to the researchers, in many cases, taurine levels do not decrease with age but either increase or remain stable.
The NIA researchers analyzed how taurine levels change with age across three animal groups: humans, monkeys, and mice. They conducted a survey among 740 adults aged 26 to 100 in the United States, while tracking monkeys aged 3 to 32 and mice over their lifespan of 27 months.
The results contradict what was previously known. In all groups except for male mice, taurine levels increased with age. If taurine were a biomarker for aging, the levels would decrease with age, but the opposite result was found. Rafael de Cabo, a gerontologist at the NIA, noted, "This suggests that if you maintain a healthy diet, there is no need to take taurine supplements separately."
Taurine is one of the amino acids produced in the body, but it can also be obtained from various animal-based foods. It is known for its fatigue recovery effects, and recently, it has garnered attention for its potential effects on preventing aging. There have been claims that the longevity secret of Okinawa, Japan, lies in taurine, and in 2023, a study was published in Science suggesting that taurine deficiency could be a cause of aging.
However, with the emergence of new research two years later, the explanation regarding the relationship between taurine and aging has changed completely. The NIA researchers noted that the previous studies had limitations because they employed a cross-sectional method analyzing animals of different age groups at a single point in time. This time, they obtained opposite results through a longitudinal study investigating the same individuals or animals over time.
The researchers also examined the relationship between taurine levels, muscle strength, and weight. Some individuals had taurine levels associated with knee strength, but overall, consistent results did not emerge. In some cases, higher taurine levels were associated with decreased muscle strength. Maria Emilia Fernandez of the NIA stated, "Given these results, blood taurine levels are unlikely to become a reliable biomarker for aging."
The authors of the previous paper from two years ago also seem to agree with this new study. One of the authors, Professor Vijay Yadav from Rutgers University in the United States, stated, "We conducted clinical trials on the effects of taurine on health, and we will announce the results in mid-next year," adding, "Until then, we do not recommend taurine supplements."
References
Science (2025), DOI: https://doi.org/10.1126/science.adl2116
Science (2023), DOI: https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abn9257