Q: A recent study highlighted the fact that plant-based diets don’t contain taurine, and this may pose a long-term risk. Does Taurine Increase Longevity? What does the evidence say?
Scott Stoll, MD Response:
Taurine is a non-essential amino acid that is made by our bodies using dietary cysteine or methionine and is a vital component of homeostatic processes throughout the body including but not limited to:
- Osmoregulation
- Stabilizes cell membranes.
- Antioxidant support
- Improves mitochondrial function.
- Protects the retina and reduces cataracts.
- Protects CNS by agonizing NMDA, GABA
- Attenuates ER stress.
- And modulates genes toward longevity.
Dietary Taurine is found predominantly in animal products but also occurs in sufficient amounts in seaweed. Researchers have hypothesized that low intake and tissue levels of taurine may contribute to a host of diseases. For example, a report from the World Health Association based on 50 populations in 25 countries reported elevated dietary taurine consumption was associated with a decreased risk of HTN, elevated cholesterol, reduced BMI and inflammation, and better blood sugar control. And driving the interest in taurine a study published June 8th, 2023, in Science found that taurine slows down aging in worms, mice, and monkeys and may extend lifespan in animals. Researchers are rightly cautious suggesting we need human RCT’s before we jump to any conclusions. Longevity is influenced by a complex interplay of genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors, and no single compound or nutrient has been definitively proven to increase lifespan.
A 1986 study reported that vegans had slightly lower plasma levels and, as would be expected, lower urinary concentrations, however the authors concluded, “It may be inferred, therefore, from the present study that adult man has a considerable capacity to synthesize taurine. A diet devoid of preformed taurine does not appear to be harmful since clinical studies of vegans suggest that their health differs little from that of omnivores.” Good news, but I would argue that health differs greatly between people eating a WFPB compared to an omnivore diet.
A reasonable conclusion at this point in time may be this; Until the evidence is conclusive, choosing a whole food plant-based lifestyle is the best solution because the evidence documents dramatically improved health, and it prevents, suspends and reverses lifestyle related diseases. WFPB nutrition also provides adequate levels of cysteine and methionine to produce taurine (with rare exceptions). Finally, adding seaweed for iodine will supply extra little taurine eliminating any need for supplementation.
References
Kawasaki A, Ono A, Mizuta S, Kamiya M, Takenaga T, Murakami S. The Taurine Content of Japanese Seaweed. Adv Exp Med Biol. 2017;975 Pt 2:1105-1112. doi: 10.1007/978-94-024-1079-2_88. PMID: 28849526.
Rana SK, Sanders TA. Taurine concentrations in the diet, plasma, urine and breast milk of vegans compared with omnivores. Br J Nutr. 1986 Jul;56(1):17-27.
Laidlaw SA, Shultz TD, Cecchino JT, Kopple JD. Plasma and urine taurine levels in vegans. Am J Clin Nutr. 1988 Apr;47(4):660-3. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/47.4.660. PMID: 3354491.
Singh, Parminder, et al. “Taurine deficiency as a driver of aging.” Science 380.6649 (2023): eabn9257.
