A new study by Columbia University researchers found that a very common nutrient could be the key to longevity. It is the amino acid taurine that has a variety of functions in the human body and is present in many foods. The researchers found that the concentration of acid in the body decreases as we age, but this supplement showed in a study done on different animal species that it can extend lifespan by 12 percent.
The surprising and groundbreaking findings were published by the international research team in the journal Science. "This study suggests that taurine can be a lifeblood within us that helps us live longer, healthier lives," said one of the study's lead authors, Vijay Yadav, in a statement.
Not conclusive proof
Yadav, who serves as a research assistant in genetics and development at Columbia University's Medical College, first discovered the benefits of taurine while researching osteoporosis, a bone-thinning disease. In addition, other studies have shown that taurine is beneficial in inducing good immune function, nervous system, and obesity prevention.
"What we discovered is that taurine helps important processes in the body that weaken with age, so we wanted to test whether the level of the substance in the blood would affect overall health and life expectancy," Yadav said. To test this hypothesis, the team conducted several studies. The latest study found that taurine concentrations decrease significantly as we age, with concentrations of the substance being more than 80% lower in 60-year-olds compared to five-year-olds.
Columbia University researchers publish research on aging (illustrative), photo: GettyImages
Despite the research, the findings are still not conclusive proof that taurine plays a significant role in our aging process. In other words, it is not clear whether the lack of substance is a result of aging itself or whether the lack of substance is the cause of the body's aging.
Significant improvement in a variety of systems
The team began investigating the effects of taurine on mice. One group of mice was given this addition of the substance and the other group was not. The surprising results showed that the life expectancy of mice that received taurine increased in females by 12% and in males by 11% compared to mice that did not receive the substance. It was also found that the substance helped reduce the number of cells in the body that produce inflammation, increased the number of stem cells in a number of tissues and helped reduce damage to DNA chains.
In light of the finding in mice, the team increased the test to different species, including rhesus monkeys. The findings showed significant improvement in all species in a variety of systems that are damaged with aging. These include bone density, liver damage, and blood sugar.
"We were very pleased when we got the results," Yadav told the American news weekly Newsweek. "We were surprised at how evolutionarily preserved the effect of taurine in different species. We've seen the effect in worms, mice, zebrafish and monkeys."
The next phase of the study is a randomized, placebo-controlled taurine trial in humans, Photo: GettyImages
The team also found that taurine levels increase as a result of exercise, especially in those who live an active lifestyle. "No matter what type of sport it is, all gymnasts had elevated taurine levels after exercise, suggesting that some of the health benefits of exercise may be due to an increase in taurine," Yadav said.
Much work remains
It is still unclear exactly how much taurine is needed to see significant improvements in health. The researchers also noted that despite the exciting findings, more work is still needed to determine how and whether taurine can be used as a dietary supplement to improve human health and longevity.
"The next phase of this study is a randomized, placebo-controlled taurine trial in multiple populations to find out if the taurine intervention will work in humans as well as it does in animal models," Yadav said. Either way, our main food sources of taurine are animal proteins, such as meat, fish, and dairy products, although it can also be found in some seaweed and energy drinks with artificial supplements.
Meanwhile, higher levels of taurine in humans have been linked to better health outcomes, including fewer cases of type 2 diabetes, lower obesity, reduced hypertension, and lower levels of inflammation. It is important to note that we do not know for sure whether these facts are directly related to taurine levels, but they are consistent with the findings of the research team conducted on animals.
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