In recent years, the world of wellness has been buzzing about anti-aging tricks, especially those championed by high-profile figures like tech entrepreneur Bryan Johnson.
Among the most talked-about supplements is taurine, an amino acid that many believed held the key to staying young.
But now, new research is flipping the script—and it might leave biohackers second-guessing.
Taurine: The Supposed Fountain of Youth
Taurine isn’t some exotic substance—it’s a naturally occurring amino acid found in our bodies, as well as in high-protein foods and even energy drinks.
It plays a role in everything from supporting the immune system and nervous function to improving athletic performance.
Because older studies showed taurine levels decreasing with age (at least in animals), supplementing it seemed like a no-brainer for those looking to protect their DNA, reduce cell damage, and stay youthful.
That’s why in 2023, taurine gained a lot of hype in the longevity community.
Bryan Johnson and other health optimizers quickly added it to their supplement routines.
It all seemed promising—until now.
New Research Challenges the Hype
A new study, however, has thrown cold water on the taurine trend.
Scientists now say that taurine levels might not decline with age after all.
In fact, they discovered that taurine can either stay the same or even increase over time—and varies significantly from person to person.
This means taurine might not be the reliable “aging marker” it was once thought to be.
If levels don’t consistently drop with age, then taking it as an anti-aging supplement could be pointless for many people.
Possible Side Effects? Yes, There Are a Few
To make matters more complex, excessive or long-term taurine supplementation may not be entirely harmless.
Some studies have linked high doses to issues like gastrointestinal discomfort, kidney strain, liver pain, and in rare cases, even leukemia.
So while it’s marketed as a wellness booster, it could come with some unwelcome baggage.
Why Does the Body Even Need Taurine?
Despite the controversy, taurine does play vital roles in the body.
It’s essential for producing energy within cells, maintaining fluid balance, processing bile acids, and ensuring our nervous system functions smoothly.
It’s also important for heart and brain health and may help lower blood pressure or stabilize the nervous system in people with heart failure.
However, there’s no clear guideline on how much taurine people should take—or even what levels are considered healthy.
Deficiencies have been linked to thyroid problems, kidney issues, and vision impairment, but more research is still needed.
What the Experts Are Saying
Joseph Baur, a physiology professor at the University of Pennsylvania, summed it up well: “The main takeaway is that a decline in taurine is not a universal feature of aging.”
The study in question looked at data from around 1,000 people aged 20 to 100, as well as blood samples from rhesus monkeys and lab mice.
Interestingly, in both humans and animals, taurine levels tended to increase with age—completely contradicting earlier beliefs.
Maria Emilia Fernandez, a researcher at the National Institute on Aging, stated that taurine is “unlikely to serve as a good biomarker of aging.”
Her colleague, Rafael de Cabo, echoed this by saying that it’s “not a reliable biomarker of anything yet,” stressing that more foundational science is needed before any firm conclusions can be drawn.
So… What’s Next for Taurine?
The debate isn’t over yet.
Vijay Yadav, one of the scientists behind the original 2023 study that sparked the taurine buzz, is now part of a clinical trial looking into how taurine supplementation might impact middle-aged people over time.
Whether taurine ends up being a breakthrough in longevity or just another fleeting wellness trend remains to be seen.
For now, the message is clear: don’t believe the hype until the science fully catches up.