2023-06-09 14:37:16
The substance taurine from food supplements slowed down aging in animals
Scientists from the American Columbia University Medical Center in Irving have found a way to slow down aging in animals using the atypical amino acid taurine. This is stated in the publication Science.
The amino acid is produced in the human body and is also found in meat and dairy products. Taurine is also used as a dietary supplement for energy drinks and sports nutrition. Unlike typical amino acids, it is not a “building material” for proteins, but it performs other important functions. Taurine is a key component of bile salts, compounds produced by the liver. They help in the processing of fat and increase the supply of antioxidants, activate certain receptors in the brain and regulate the amount of fluid in the cells.
As scientists have found, in mice and in humans, the level of taurine in the body decreases with age. A 60-year-old person has about 80% less of it than a child.
Experimental worms and mice restored the level of taurine to the “young” level. This helped to increase their lifespan: in the case of worms by 10-23%, mice – by 10-12%. Mice after the course had a better metabolism, greater muscle strength, signs of aging were less pronounced. And in experimental monkeys, taking taurine for six months, the condition of bones, immunity and metabolism improved.
Thus, scientists came to the conclusion that taurine slows down the aging process, although the exact mechanism of its action is still unknown.
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