Study challenges taurine as a biomarker of aging

Research in animals and humans has suggested low levels of taurine may be a driver for aging, which has led to discussions about whether taurine is an aging biomarker. Now, a comprehensive study involving longitudinal data from humans, monkeys, and mice shows that taurine levels in the blood do not consistently decline with age, and that levels of taurine vary more by factors unique to each individual than based on aging.

In order to qualify as a true biomarker of aging, taurine must reliably change with age across diverse populations and over time, ideally evidenced through longitudinal data. According to Fernandez and colleagues in their new paper, earlier studies – mostly based on cross-sectional data – have yielded conflicting findings about how taurine levels in the blood change with age.

Source:

American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)

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