Biohackers, take note.
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.
The findings cast doubt on earlier research that hyped it as a potential “elixir of life,” after it appeared to improve health and extend lifespan in worms, mice and monkeys.
Taurine is an amino acid with a wide range of roles, including supporting immune and nervous system health.
While our bodies naturally produce taurine, a 2023 study suggested its levels decline with age in humans, mice and monkeys. 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.
But they might have jumped the gun.
A new study from scientists at the National Institutes of Health measured taurine levels in humans of various ages, plus monkeys and mice.
Contrary to earlier research, they found no steady decline with age — in fact, taurine levels stayed stable or even rose as participants got older.
The scientists suggested that limitations in previous research might explain the conflicting results.
Most earlier studies were “cross-sectional,” meaning they examined many participants of different ages at a single point in time rather than following the same subjects over an extended period.
The new study, meanwhile, combined both cross-sectional and longitudinal data, with the latter involving blood samples collected at multiple time points from the same groups of people and lab animals as they aged.
Notably, the scientists found that taurine levels did vary between participants, but these differences were influenced more by factors like sex and species than by aging itself.
“On the basis of these findings, we conclude that low circulating taurine concentrations are unlikely to serve as a good biomarker of aging,” they said.
The scientists also noted that the effectiveness of taurine supplements for delaying aging or treating age-related conditions likely depends on numerous factors and individual circumstances.
But that doesn’t mean taurine doesn’t have any health benefits.
The amino acid is a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent that supports digestion, energy production, immune response, neurological development, brain function, eyesight, nerve and muscle conduction and more.
Although your body produces some taurine naturally, it’s still important to get it from your diet to maintain optimal levels.
Most people on a typical Western diet get ample taurine from animal-based foods like seafood, meat, and dairy.
Vegans and vegetarians, however, may have lower levels since taurine isn’t found in most plants.
For those groups and others, supplements can help fill the gap. Taurine is also a common ingredient in energy drinks and bars.