Taurine deficiency may be a driver of aging in animals

Taurine is a semi-essential amino acid made within our body and is also obtained from an animal-based diet. Taurine’s function in the body is implicated in muscle and bone development, immune function, and neurological functions–processes that decline with age. Studies have shown an association of taurine in blood with health and its decline in some tissues with age. However, how taurine affects aging is unknown.

A multi-national, collaborative study– led by Dr Vijay K. Yadav from Columbia University and involving the National Institute of Immunology and other institutes – now shows the deficiency of taurine to be a driver of aging. The group found taurine abundance decreases substantially with age in the bloodstream of mice, monkeys, and humans. This observation led the group to check the effect of taurine supplementation on health span and life span in several species. In taurine-fed mice, the average life span increased by 10 to 12%. In Caenorhabditis elegans, taurine supplementation increased the average life span by 10 to 23%. Taurine-fed mice were also healthier than the untreated mice with improved bone and muscle strength, memory, and immune function. Similar health effects were reported in rhesus monkeys. At a cellular level, taurine reduced the hallmarks of aging–reduced senescence, suppressed consequences of telomerase deficiency, mitochondrial dysfunction, DNA damage, and inflammation.

In humans, the group showed that low levels of taurine in aged humans was associated with disorders like obesity, hypertension, inflammation, and diabetes. Moreover, taurine levels increased with a bout of exercise, which is known to improve many aging related variables. These evidences in humans suggest that taurine deficiency may be a driver of aging in humans as well. However, a randomized clinical trial would be necessary to determine if taurine supplementation improves health in humans.

Reference

Parminder Singh, Kishore Gollapalli, Stefano Mangiola, Daniela Schranner, Mohd Aslam Yusuf, Manish Chamoli et al., Taurine deficiency as a driver of aging. Science 380, eabn9257(2023). DOI: 10.1126/science.abn9257

Funding

This work was funded by core research grants from DBT-National Institute of Immunology; a DBT Ramalingaswamy Fellowship; the Nathan Shock Center of Excellence in the Basic Biology of Aging Project; National Institutes of Health (R01HD107574, P30AG013280, T32AG066574); Wellcome (098051); Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (450149205-TRR333/1); Institut National Du Cancer (PLBIO21-228 ); Science and Engineering Research Board (STR/2019/00064); Department of Biotechnology (BT/PR40325/BTIS/137/1/2020); a Longevity Impetus Grant; Academy of Finland Center of Excellence in Complex Disease Genetics (312074, 336824, and 352793); The Sigrid Juselius Foundation; a Larry L. Hillblom Foundation Fellowship; Victorian Cancer Agency (ECRF21036 and MCRF21002).

Taurine deficiency as a driver of aging. From Parminder Singh et al., Taurine deficiency as a driver of aging. Science 380, eabn9257(2023). DOI: 10.1126/science.abn9257 Taurine concentration in blood declines with aging (top left). A reversal of this drop through taurine supplementation increased healthy life span in mice and worms but not in yeast (bottom left and top middle). Taurine supplementation affected several hallmarks of aging (middle). In humans, lower taurine concentrations were associated with multiple diseases (top right). A randomized controlled clinical trial in humans is warranted to assess the antiaging effects of taurine (bottom right). BMI, body mass index.