De acordo com um ensaio clínico envolvendo mulheres de 55 a 70 anos, adicionar esse nutriente à dieta pode fortalecer as defesas antioxidantes do corpo e possivelmente diminuir a chance de desenvolver diabetes, pressão alta e doenças cardiovasculares. No entanto, mais pesquisas são necessárias para confirmar seu efeito.
De acordo com a pesquisa, o aminoácido taurina pode ser usado em tratamentos antienvelhecimento.
Nossas células produzem subprodutos potencialmente tóxicos chamados “radicais livres” quando decompõem o oxigênio que respiramos e os alimentos que consumimos todos os dias para sobreviver. Algumas dessas moléculas desempenham funções biológicas importantes, mas se houver muitas delas, as estruturas celulares internas podem ser danificadas, prejudicando a capacidade das células de funcionar e possivelmente causando doenças crônicas. Nós nos referimos a esse processo como estresse oxidativo.
Nossos corpos têm um incrível arsenal de enzimas antioxidantes que ajudam a manter um equilíbrio saudável de espécies reativas de oxigênio, mas à medida que envelhecemos, esses mecanismos de controle diminuem. Um estudo publicado recentemente na revista dieta Sugira complementar a dieta com aminoácidos[{” attribute=””>acid taurine could be a realistic approach to address the issue.
The study reported in the study was carried out at the University of São Paulo (USP) in Brazil. It involved 24 female volunteers aged 55 to 70. They were randomly separated into two groups. One group consumed three 500 mg capsules of taurine per day for 16 weeks (1.5 g per day). The other group received pills that simply contained corn starch (placebo). Neither the volunteers nor the researchers were aware of which group each participant belonged to.
Oxidative stress markers were analyzed in blood samples taken before and after the intervention. One of the most intriguing findings was an almost 20% rise in levels of the antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the taurine group, compared to a 3.5% drop in the control group. SOD, the scientists explain, protects cells from the harmful reactions of the superoxide radical.
“Preventing the buildup of free radicals that naturally occurs with aging probably prevents cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure, among other chronic conditions,” said Ellen de Freitas. Freitas is a professor at the Ribeirão Preto School of Physical Education and Sports (EEFERP-USP) and co-principal investigator for a project supported by FAPESP.
According to Freitas, very few studies of the effects of taurine in the context of aging can be found in the scientific literature. “This study was a first step, aimed at investigating the ideal dose and possible side effects, none of which was observed in any of the participants,” she said.
Anti-aging therapy
Taurine is a nutrient found in certain foods, such as fish, shellfish, chicken, turkey, and beef. Additionally, it is naturally produced in some tissues of the human body, particularly the liver, and is important to the functioning of the central nervous system, immunity, eyesight, and fertility.
The Freitas group has been studying taurine’s antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties for at least 10 years, initially in high-performance athletes and later in obese people, with daily dosages ranging from 3 g to 6 g. “The results showed that oxidative stress in these individuals could be controlled when their diet was supplemented with this amino acid. We then decided to test the strategy in the context of aging. This was very novel, so we began with a very low safety dose,” Freitas said.
The initial plan was to look at the effects of taurine supplementation in conjunction with exercise training, as well as both treatments separately. Physical activity is thought to be one of the main ways to regulate levels of oxidizing substances and antioxidants in the body, and the proper amount is thought to enhance the benefits of taurine. However, because of the pandemic and the fact that the volunteers were in a high-risk group for DOI: 10.1016/j.nut.2022.111706