Researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the United States have released a new study in the respected journal Science that calls taurine's position as a reliable marker of biological ageing into question. Taurine, an amino acid found naturally in the body and commonly promoted in energy drinks and supplements, has recently received attention for its ability to slow ageing. However, the latest data indicate that taurine levels in the blood do not follow a clear, predictable trend with age. 

"Our goal was to see if taurine could be a biomarker—that is, something in the body that we can measure to better understand the ageing process," said Dr Rafael de Cabo, a senior researcher at the National Institute on Ageing. "But what we found was far more complex." 

Taurine is a conditionally necessary amino acid, which implies that, while our bodies produce it, some people may require it through food in certain situations. It affects heart function, eye health, immune system modulation, and nervous system development. 

Animal studies, particularly in worms and mice, revealed that taurine supplementation enhanced age-related characteristics and increased lifespan. However, it is uncertain whether these effects also apply to humans. 

Researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) looked at blood samples from people, rhesus monkeys, and mice to see how taurine levels fluctuate with age. Using both longitudinal and cross-sectional data, they discovered that taurine levels remained steady or rose with age across all three species. Interestingly, male mice's taurine levels remained substantially unaffected. However, differences in taurine levels across individuals were frequently higher than those caused by ageing. Furthermore, the study found no consistent relationship between taurine levels and typical health markers like muscle strength or body weight, implying that taurine alone may not be a positive predictor of age-related deterioration or general physical health. 

According to Dr Maria Emilia Fernandez, a postdoctoral researcher in the study, low or high taurine levels were linked to both good and poor physical performance, with sometimes no association at all. 

This means that taurine cannot be used to accurately predict ageing or health decline. 

Taurine has received a lot of attention in the supplement business as an anti-ageing ingredient. While some early lab experiments on animals showed promise, this current study underscores the importance of avoiding hasty conclusions without human-based evidence. 

"There is still no solid clinical trial data showing that taurine supplements benefit humans in terms of longevity or functional health," the doctor said. 

Biomarkers are compounds found in the body that provide doctors with information about our health. Examples include cholesterol and blood sugar. Scientists are looking for accurate biomarkers to predict how quickly we age and if we are at risk for age-related diseases. 

"Having accurate biomarkers could help people get personalised treatments and age more healthily," said Dr. Luigi Ferrucci, the Scientific Director of the NIH's Institute of Ageing. "But taurine, as this study shows, isn't one of them." 

While taurine plays a crucial role in your body, taking it as a supplement will not make you live longer or age slower—at least not according to current research. Many variables influence ageing, including genetics, environment, nutrition, and lifestyle. 

The new study reminds us of the limitations of animal research in predicting human results and emphasises the importance of large, controlled clinical trials before drawing conclusions about supplements.