Have scientists cracked the secret to a longer life? – study

Taurine, a nutrient produced by the body and found in certain foods, may hold the secret to slowing down the aging process, according to a new study published on June 9.

The peer-reviewed study, published in the journal Sciencefound that animals with taurine deficiency age more intensely.

The study also found that taurine supplements slowed the aging process in monkeys, mice, and worms. The healthy lifespan of animals increased by up to 12%.

How did the researchers test their theory?

The researchers performed tests on 250 mice that were 14 months old, which is considered middle-aged for mice.

Every day for a year, the researchers fed 125 mice taurine in addition to their controlled diet. The mice received 1000 mg of taurine per kg of body weight.

Mice that were fed taurine had an increased average lifespan that was 10-12% longer than mice that received only the standard diet. They also performed a variety of physical tests which proved that mice that ingested taurine were healthier. The life expectancy of the mice also increased, from 18 to 25%.

Taurine suppressed weight gain in female mice by 10%, increased energy expenditure, increased bone mass, and improved muscle strength and endurance. Taurine was also thought to reduce anxiety and depression in mice and promote a better immune system.

The taurine also helped remove old cells that would otherwise not have been removed and replaced.

When tested on rhesus monkeys, the researchers found similar results. Half of the monkeys received taurine supplements for six months. Those who received the supplements experienced reduced weight gain, reduced markers of liver damage, increased bone density, and improved immune health.

The researchers also found that taurine levels were 85% lower in 15-year-old monkeys compared to 5-year-old monkeys.

“Not only did we find that the animals lived longer, but we also found that they led healthier lives,” said Dr. Vijay Yadav, researcher on the study and assistant professor of genetics and development at Columbia. University Vagelos College of Physicians. and surgeons.

Can taurine help humans live longer?

The researchers looked at a sample of 12,000 European adults over the age of 60. Preliminary data revealed that taurine concentrations were, on average, 80% lower in older adults than in younger ones.

By measuring participants’ health with 50 markers, the researchers were able to infer that people without taurine deficiency were healthier.

People with higher taurine levels had fewer cases of type 2 diabetes, lower levels of obesity, reduced hypertension, and less inflammation.

“These are non-causal associations,” Yadav warned, “but the results are consistent with the possibility that taurine deficiency contributes to human aging.”

In the second human study, researchers divided participants into two categories: athletic and sedentary.

All participants were asked to perform an exercise, cycling. Participants in both groups had higher taurine levels after exercise than before.

“No matter the individual, all had increased levels of taurine after exercise, suggesting that some of the health benefits of exercise may come from increased taurine,” Yadav explained.

The secret to living longer

“Taurine abundance declines with age, so restoring taurine to youthful levels in old age may be a promising anti-aging strategy.”

“Over the past 25 years, scientists have been trying to find factors that not only allow us to live longer, but also increase lifespan, the time we stay healthy in our old age,” Yadav said.

“This study suggests that taurine may be an elixir of life within us that helps us live longer and healthier lives.

“We realized that if taurine regulates all of these processes that decline with age, perhaps blood taurine levels affect overall health and lifespan.”

“That’s when we started to wonder if taurine deficiency was a driver of the aging process, and we set up a big experiment with mice.”

“While this is a success of modern medicine and government policies, it is essential to ensure that the elderly also remain healthy, as this will increase the quality of life and reduce the associated costs. to the aging of society,” the researchers write in their paper. .

Foods rich in taurine:

Shellfish, which are not kosher, contain some of the highest levels of taurine of any food, according to NBC News.

Taurine can also be found in the dark meat of chicken and turkey at high levels.

Traces of taurine are also present in dairy products.

 

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