A common ingredient found in meat, fish, and energy drinks could extend your life and health, according to scientists. Taurine, a type of chemical called an amino sulfonic acid, could potentially help slow down a humans ageing process.
Researchers from Columbia University discovered that levels of taurine fell by 80% with age in different species, including humans. While experimenting on middle-aged animals - by giving them daily doses of taurine to youthful levels - the research showed that it boosted the health of monkeys and expanded the life span of mice and worms.
Although the human body can make small amounts of taurine, an amino sulfonic acid, people mostly consume it through food. The nutrient is found in some foods and drinks and is also sold as a supplement.
Read more: The most ultra processed foods experts say you should cut from your diet now
Foods including the highest levels of taurine are shellfish - like scallops, clams, and mussels - as well as dark chicken and turkey meat. Other meats contain moderate amounts, while dairy products like milk and ice cream contain smaller amounts of taurine. The nutrient is also found in many energy drinks, including Red Bull and Monster.
Natural sources of taurine include:
- Scallops
- Tuna
- Tilapia
- Octopus
- Turkey
- Chicken
- Seaweed
- Beef
Scientists say that although taurine may be an "elixir of life" in animal research, increasing taurine levels in people has not been tested. They recommend that people do not consume taurine pills or energy drinks in an attempt to live longer. Dr Vijay Yadav, who led the research team at Columbia University, said it is currently unclear whether humans may benefit in the same way as animals, but believes a large-scale trial should be carried out to learn more about the impact taurine can have on a person's health and life span.
This study of taurine in animal research started by analysing molecules in the blood of different species. A daily dose was given to 14-month-old mice, which is equivalent to about age 45 for humans, and both sexes "were healthier and appeared younger," said Dr Yadav.
The experiment found that male mice lived 10% longer and female mice lived 12% longer. They also discovered that the taurine-fed middle-aged mice had a healthier functioning of bone, muscle, pancreas, brain, fat, gut, and immune system.
Similar results were found in worms and monkeys. For the research, 15-year-old rhesus monkeys were given a six-month course of taurine. The results found improvements in body weight, bone, blood-sugar levels, and the immune system, but it was too short of an experiment to notice a difference in life expectancy. They also looked at the impact of taurine supplementation in worms and yeast. The study showed that taurine did not affect the life span of unicellular yeast but increased the life span in multicellular worms.
The study, published in the journal Science, says: "Taurine abundance decreases during aging.
"A reversal of this decline through taurine supplementation increases health span and life span in mice and worms and health span in monkeys. This identifies taurine deficiency as a driver of aging in these species."
It continues: "Reversal of taurine deficiency during aging may be a promising antiaging strategy.
"Given that taurine has no known toxic effects in humans (though rarely used in concentrations used here), can be administered orally, and affects all the major hallmarks of aging, human trials are warranted to examine whether taurine supplementation increases healthy life span in humans."
Read next:
- The important thing your sun cream needs to have to protect you from getting skin cancer
- Eight grim signs and symptoms of medieval disease surging back
- There's a good reason why some people have curly hair, scientists discover
- The shocking link between poverty and cancer in Wales revealed in new report
- Woman cruelly labelled as ‘the fat one’ at work loses 7.5st in amazing transformation
