A new study suggests that a supplement popular in longevity circles may not be the anti-aging breakthrough it’s been cracked up to be.
That same research found taurine supplements helped mice live 10-12% longer — roughly the equivalent of seven to eight human years.
The findings sparked hope that taurine levels could serve as a blood-based biomarker for aging, sparking a wave of interest among biohackers.
Longevity figures like Bryan Johnson quickly added taurine supplements to their routines, chasing longer, healthier lives.
Contrary to earlier research, they found no steady decline with age — in fact, taurine levels stayed stable or even rose as participants got older.
Notice, biohackers.
A popular supplement in longevity circles may not be the anti-aging miracle it has been hyped up to be, according to a new study.
The results call into question earlier studies that hailed it as a possible “elixir of life” after it seemed to prolong lifespan and enhance health in worms, mice, and monkeys.
Taurine is an amino acid with many functions, such as promoting the health of the nervous and immune systems.
Although taurine is naturally produced by our bodies, a 2023 study found that taurine levels in humans, mice, and monkeys decrease with age. According to that same study, taurine supplements extended the lives of mice by 10–12%, or about seven to eight human years.
Biohackers became interested after the findings raised the possibility that taurine levels could be used as a blood-based biomarker for aging. In an effort to live longer, healthier lives, longevity celebrities like Bryan Johnson soon incorporated taurine supplements into their regimens.
However, they may have acted too quickly.
In a recent study, researchers at the National Institutes of Health assessed taurine levels in mice, monkeys, and humans of different ages.
They discovered no consistent decrease with age, in contrast to previous studies; rather, taurine levels remained constant or even increased as participants aged.
The scientists hypothesized that disparate findings could be explained by shortcomings in earlier studies.
In contrast to long-term follow-up, the majority of previous studies were “cross-sectional,” which means they looked at a large number of participants of various ages at one particular moment.
Meanwhile, the new study integrated longitudinal and cross-sectional data, with the latter using blood samples taken from the same groups of people and lab animals over time as they grew older.
Interestingly, the researchers discovered that while taurine levels did differ amongst subjects, these variations were better explained by species and sex than by aging.
They concluded that low levels of taurine in the blood are not likely to be a reliable indicator of aging.
The researchers also pointed out that a variety of factors and unique situations will probably determine how well taurine supplements work to prevent or treat age-related disorders.
Taurine does, however, still have some health advantages.
The amino acid is a potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant that promotes immune response, neurological development, brain function, eyesight, nerve and muscle conduction, digestion, and energy production, among other things.
Even though your body naturally produces some taurine, it’s still crucial to consume it through food to keep your levels at their ideal levels.
Animal-based foods like meat, fish, and dairy provide most people on a typical Western diet with an adequate amount of taurine.
However, since taurine is absent from the majority of plants, vegans and vegetarians might have lower levels.
Supplements can help bridge the gap for those groups and others. Taurine is also frequently found in energy bars and drinks.
