By processing the oxygen we breathe and the meals we eat each day to outlive, our cells produce doubtlessly poisonous by-products, reactive oxygen species, known as “free radicals.”
These molecules carry out important features for the physique, together with defending us from most cancers. But, most of the time, they’ll injury the interior construction of cells, impair their perform and assist the emergence of power ailments. This course of known as oxidative stress – oxidative stress can be helpful, for instance via sports activities.
Our our bodies have a actual arsenal of antioxidant enzymes that assist hold reactive oxygen species in stability. However, as we age, these management mechanisms change into much less environment friendly.
Researchers on the USP (University of Paulo) have now demonstrated that supplementing the weight-reduction plan with the amino acid taurine could also be a viable diet technique to beat this drawback.
Taurine is present in meals comparable to fish, poultry, turkey, purple meat and seafood. It can be produced naturally in some tissues of the human physique, particularly for the liver, central nervous system, immune, imaginative and prescient and reproductive perform.
Effects on organic indicators
The analysis included 24 volunteers, between 55 and 70 years of age, randomly divided into two teams: three each day capsules with 500 mg every (1.5 g per day) for 16 weeks had been consumed in half. Others ate solely capsules containing corn starch (placebo). Neither the contributors nor the researchers knew which group every belonged to.
One of probably the most attention-grabbing outcomes was a rise of about 20% within the focus of the enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD) within the group receiving taurine, whereas within the management group this enzyme decreased by 3.5% – SOD protects the cell from hurt. Radical superoxide response.
“By stopping the buildup of free radicals that happen naturally with advancing age, we are able to forestall coronary heart illness, diabetes and hypertension in different long-term situations,” assessed venture coordinator Professor Ellen de Freitas.
Shameful outcomes
According to the staff, there are only a few research within the scientific literature on the consequences of taurine by way of aging. “This is a very preliminary examine, aimed toward discovering the optimum dose and potential negative effects – which weren’t noticed in any of the contributors.”
In addition to SOD, two different markers of oxidative stress had been analyzed: the antioxidant enzyme glutathione reductase (GR), which decreased considerably in each teams, and the biomarker of oxidative stress malondialdehyde (MDA), which elevated by 23% in management. The group and ladies taking taurine decreased by a median of 4%.
“This is a timid end result, however we consider that with excessive doses of taurine it may be very vital,” Ellen assessed – it’s price noting that cardiologists warn in regards to the dangers of power drinks, nearly all of that are wealthy in taurine. .
The subsequent step will probably be to verify the consequences of taurine ingestion on a giant group of contributors and in the end decide efficient and protected doses.
With info from Agencia FAPESP