TAURINE

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Details

• The findings were published on 8 June in Science.
• Taurine supplement can offer various health benefits to animals.
• It can improve health and increase the life of animals like mice, monkeys and worms.
• However to be more certain about treatments of people to stay healthy and live longer, more investigation is needed.

Ageing and Taurine

Taurine, a naturally occurring amino acid, levels decline with the ageing of animals.

Background of Anti ageing research

• Scientists worldwide are keen to find anti ageing solutions from decades.
• Various researches are done to study and investigate the link between blood levels of chemicals and ageing, including metabolites, hormones and micronutrients.

Current focus

• Focus of investigation is now multicentric, multinational intervention trial of Taurine in humans.
• This is because the Taurine had potential for the betterment of animal and human health, including immunity, bone health and nervous-system function.

Taurine

• It is also known as 2-aminoethane-sulphonic acid, which is considered an essential amino acid for humans.
• It has many functions in the body including balancing of fluids, salts and minerals, working as a neurotransmitter in the brain etc.
• Through various processes, enough taurine is produced in the human body.
• It occurs naturally in foods with protein. For instance high amounts of are found in meat and fish.
• However there are various taurine supplements are available in market.

Experiment Related to Taurine

• In mice, monkeys and people, the blood concentrations of taurine are found to be decreased with age. For instance taurine in the blood of 15-year-old monkeys was 85% less than a 5-year-old monkey.
• In an experiment, a daily solution of taurine was given to a group of mice, Caenorhabditis elegans worms and middle-aged rhesus monkeys and compared with a control group.

Health Benefits

• Due to this daily dose, It was observed that there was an increase in muscle endurance, strength, and immunity.
• Also the lifespan of mice were increased more than 10% in comparison to control group. And there was a positive impact on life, body weights and liver health of monkey.
• It reduced the tendencies associated with depression and anxiety.
• Hence it was inferred that taurine supplement might delay the declining levels of this acid and may reduce age-related health problems.
• It is believed to be the protector of cells as it promotes their survival.

Concerns and Limitations

• Its effect on the ageing and health of human is still unclear.
• Ageing is complex process and exact process and change induced by taurine at molecular level are not clear. A direct cause and effect relation was not observed.
• Mice in the experiment were feed high doses of taurine which might not be safe for humans as the ideal doses are dependent on oxygen, age, body weight, caloric expenditure and blood volume etc.
  • It is to be noted that approximately 3 to 6 grams of taurine, for an 80-kilogram body weigh, is considered safe by European Food Safety Authority.

Must read article:

https://www.iasgyan.in/daily-current-affairs/arctic-ice

PRACTICE QUESTION Taurine has several positive implications for health of animals and has a potential to be a game changer for life sciences and human ageing. Substantiate. Also mention the concerns associated with the use of taurine supplements. (250 words)

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-01910-4