Addition of this nutrient to the diet may boost the body's antioxidant defenses, thus reducing the likelihood of diabetes, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular disease, according to a 55 to 70-year-old woman's clinical trial.
When we breathe oxygen and eat food we consume each day, our cells break down potentially harmful free radicals, which we refer to as "free radicals." Some of these molecules are useful in life, but if too many are, the cells' ability to function might be harmed, resulting in chronic illness.
Our bodies have a remarkable arsenal of antioxidant enzymes that assist in maintaining a healthy balance of reactive oxygen species, but these control mechanisms diminish as we age. According to a recent research, supplementing one's diet with the amino acid taurine might be a viable strategy to address the issue.
The study described in the publication was carried out at the University of So Paulo (USP) in Brazil. It involved 24 female volunteers aged 55 to 70 who were randomly divided into two groups: one group consumed three 500 mg capsules of taurine per day for 16 weeks (1.5 g per day) while the other group received tablets that included corn starch (placebo). Neither the volunteers nor the researchers were aware of which group each participant was in.
Researchers measured Oxidative stress markers in blood samples taken before and after the intervention. One of the most surprising findings was an almost 20% increase in levels of the antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the taurine group, compared to a 3.5 percent decrease in the control group. SOD, the researchers explain, protects cells from the harmful reactions of the superoxide radical.
Ellen de Freitas is a professor at the Ribeiro Preto School of Physical Education and Sports (EEFERP-USP) and co-principal investigator for a FAPESP funded research.
According to Freitas, very few studies investigating the effects of taurine on the elderly person have been published in the scientific literature. “This study was a first step, aimed at investigating the best dosage and possible side effects, none of which was observed in any of the participants," she said.
Taurine is a mineral found in many foods, including fish, shellfish, turkey, and beef. Additionally, it is naturally produced in several tissues of the human body, including the liver, which is essential for the functioning of the central nervous system, immunity, vision, and fertility.
The Freitas group has been investigating taurine's anti-inflammatory abilities for at least ten years, initially in high-performance athletes, and later in obese individuals, with daily doses ranging from 3 g to 6 g. “The findings demonstrated that oxidative stress in these individuals could be controlled when their diet was supplemented with this amino acid. This was a relatively new approach, so we started with a very low safety dosage.”
The initial intention was to examine the benefits of taurine supplementation in combination 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 dosage is thought to enhance the benefits of taurine. However, because of the epidemic and the fact that the volunteers were in a high-risk group for COVID-19 complications, the researchers decided to focus on the nutritional portion of the experiment, which could be monitored remotely.
Other markers of oxidative stress were also studied, including SOD: the antioxidant enzyme glutathione reductase (GR), which decreased significantly in both groups, and malondialdehyde (MDA), which increased by 23% in the control group and decreased by 4% in the taurine supplementation group.
“These observations were modest, but we believe a higher dosage of taurine might provide stronger evidence for its health benefits,” Freitas said.
Gabriela Abud, the first author of the paper and a Ph.D. candidate at the Ribeiro Preto Medical School (FMRP-USP), may have influenced the biochemical findings.
“We examined levels of minerals that are vital to the functioning of these enzymes, including selenium, zinc, magnesium, and calcium,” Abud said. “For example, selenium is a co-factor for glutathione peroxidase [which indirectly helps eliminate hydrogen peroxide from the organism] and was reduced in both groups.”
Taurine supplementation is only the "cake on the cake," not a miracle potion on its own, but it does provide some health benefits. "A healthy lifestyle, a balanced diet, and regular exercise are necessary for the anti-aging effect to occur," Freitas said.
In the next study, the group intends to include obese women aged 60 to 75 with sarcopenia, a progressive muscle loss that can be exacerbated by chronic inflammation. “These individuals face an acute risk of developing complications. We'll offer physical training associated with taurine supplementation at 3 g per day and observe the possible modifications due to these interventions,” Freitas said.
The risks and benefits of dietary taurine supplementation are still being investigated. Food supplements should not be consumed without medical supervision.
Gabriela Ferreira Abud, Flavia Giolo De Carvalho Ph.D., Sofia Germano Travieso B.Sc., Carlos Roberto Bueno Junior Ph.D., Julio Sergio Marchini Ph.D. and Ellen Cristinide Freitas Ph.D., 11 June 2022, Nutrition. DOI: 10.1016/j.nut.2022.111706