Health Improvement Effects Observed in Rats and Monkeys
Human Benefits Uncertain... Clinical Trial Planned
A new study suggests that taurine, the main ingredient in energy drinks, may have the potential to prevent aging in living organisms, drawing significant attention.
On the 8th (local time), according to the British daily 'The Guardian,' a research team from Columbia University in the U.S. published these findings in the scientific journal 'Science.'
First, the research team noted that the taurine levels in elderly people over 60 years old are only one-third of those in 5-year-old children. This can be interpreted as a correlation between taurine reduction and aging.
Energy drink. The photo is not related to any specific expression in the article. [Image source=Yonhap News]
Based on this discovery, the team administered a daily fixed amount of taurine to hundreds of middle-aged mice and then compared the lifespan of each individual.
The results showed that female mice given taurine lived 12% longer, and male mice lived 10% longer compared to the control group. Although their fat mass was only half that of the control group, their bone mass was 60% higher.
Mice that consumed taurine also performed better in endurance and cooperation tests than the control group, and their 'insulin sensitivity,' directly related to diabetes, improved.
Additionally, the researchers claimed improvements in mental health aspects, such as reduced curiosity in mazes and a decreased tendency to hide in dark places.
The team further conducted similar experiments on worms. As a result, the lifespan of worms treated with 'taurine therapy' increased by 10-23% compared to the control group.
In monkeys, which are biologically most similar to humans, six months of taurine intake led to weight loss, increased bone density, and enhanced immunity.
Dr. Vijay Yadav, who led the study, stated, "Taurine decreases with age, and by reversing this, animals may have lived longer and become healthier."
However, he warned that taurine intake for the purpose of preventing aging could be risky, as clinical trials on humans have not yet been conducted.
The research team is currently planning multinational randomized trials to test the effects of taurine on humans.
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