Taurine: The Mysterious Molecule in Human Body and Feeding Code

From energy drinks to infant formula, this small molecule holds the secret to health and aging balance.

First isolated from ox bile in 1827, taurine has become one of the most widely consumed nutritional supplements globally3 5 .

Multidimensional Perspective: The Dual Nature of Taurine

Human Synthesis and External Supplementation

The human body can synthesize taurine itself, but newborns and infants have insufficient synthesis capacity, which is why breast milk happens to contain high concentrations of taurine6 .

This is also why when breastfeeding is not possible, qualified formula generally adds taurine to complete nutritional content6 .

Synthesis Methods and Development

In industrial production, taurine synthesis methods are also continuously improving. Chemical synthesis methods such as the reaction of ethylene oxide with ammonium sulfite to obtain taurine ammonium salt, followed by acidification and refinement to obtain taurine1 .

Another method is preparation through the ammonolysis reaction of sodium 2-hydroxyethanesulfonate4 . Today, scientists are trying to use synthetic biology strategies to construct microbial cell factories for taurine production3 .

Taurine, also known as β-aminoethanesulfonic acid, is a sulfur-containing conditionally essential amino acid that mainly exists in free form in organisms3 .

Anti-Aging Frontier: Scientific Controversy and Hope Coexist

Encouraging Research Data

Studies show taurine can extend worm lifespan by 10%~23%, mouse lifespan by 10%~12%, promote immune system and organ rejuvenation, and improve aging-related indicators3 .

Researchers found that long-term low taurine diet can lead to a 20% decrease in serum taurine content, and this phenomenon is more pronounced in elderly populations, with serum taurine content decreasing by up to 80%3 .

Controversy and Questions

However, scientific consensus rarely develops smoothly. In June 2025, scientists from the National Institute on Aging published a new study in Science magazine questioning taurine as a biomarker of aging and the view that it can avoid aging as a dietary supplement5 .

"Our research clearly shows that as long as you eat healthily, you don't need taurine supplements." said NIA gerontologist Rafael de Cabo5 .

Inconsistent Research Findings

Interestingly, in de Cabo team's research, taurine levels increased with age in all study cohorts except male mice5 .

In some cases, higher taurine levels were even associated with insufficient strength5 . Based on these findings, researchers believe that blood taurine levels are "unlikely to be good biomarkers of aging"5 .

Taurine and Disease: Complex Relationship Network

The Dual Nature of Taurine

Researchers found that in acute myeloid leukemia tissues, the expression of key enzymes for taurine synthesis significantly increased, and taurine levels in bone marrow interstitial fluid were 1.7 times higher than in the control group6 .

Once this key enzyme was inhibited, tumor cell survival rate and colony formation rate decreased by 2 to 3.2 times6 .

Compared with the control group, leukemia model mice using taurine supplements had about three times higher mortality risk6 .

Opposite Conclusions

However, in the same year, a study published in Cell reached the opposite conclusion - in gastric cancer research, it was found that tumor SLC6A6-mediated taurine deficiency promotes immune evasion in gastric cancer6 .

And taurine supplementation can improve the efficacy of gastric cancer treatment6 . These completely different results reveal that taurine may play completely different roles in different diseases.

Important warning: Leukemia patients and high-risk groups need to be more cautious about taurine intake6 .

Taurine's Natural Treasure: Rich Source in Oysters

Oysters
Content Differences and Nutritional Value

Among natural foods, oysters are an excellent source of taurine. Research shows that fresh oysters have high taurine content, reaching 8-12 g/kg (oyster meat), second only to Pinctada martensii.

Taurine content in oysters from different origins varies, with oysters from Zhanjiang, Qinzhou, Beihai, Yangjiang and other sea areas having higher taurine content than those from Shantou, Shanwei, Shenzhen, Taishan and other sea areas.

Research has found that the rich taurine content in oyster meat may be an important reason for its ability to lower blood sugar, sober up, and protect against alcoholic liver injury.

Comprehensive Nutritional Value of Oysters

Oysters are not only a treasure trove of taurine but also an important source of high-quality protein, with an average content accounting for 39.1%-53.1% of dry mass.

The eight essential amino acids in oyster protein account for about 40% of total amino acid content, making it a complete protein. Meanwhile, oysters are currently known as the marine shellfish with the highest zinc content, reaching 124 mg/kg (oyster meat).

Experimental Insights: Research on Taurine Enhancing White Blood Cell Function

To gain a deeper understanding of how taurine affects immune function, let's examine a key experiment in detail that studied the role of taurine in enhancing white blood cell function2 .

Research Methods and Process

In this study, researchers set up multiple experimental groups: (1) Blank control group (2) Immunosuppression model group (induced by cyclophosphamide) (3) Taurine treatment group (administered different doses of taurine on the basis of immunosuppression)2 .

The experiment used mouse models, establishing an immunosuppression model through intraperitoneal injection of cyclophosphamide (150mg/kg), then the treatment groups were given low, medium, and high doses (100, 200, 400mg/kg) of taurine suspension by gavage for 14 consecutive days2 .

Key Detection Indicators

On day 15, researchers detected multiple immune indicators: spleen and thymus indices, peripheral blood neutrophil phagocytosis rate, serum hemolysin level, lymphocyte transformation function, etc2 .

At the same time, the phagocytic function of the mononuclear-macrophage system was also evaluated through carbon clearance experiments2 .

Experimental Results and Data Analysis

The table below shows the core findings from the experiment:

Table 1: Effect of Taurine on White Blood Cell Function in Immunosuppressed Mice
Group Neutrophil Phagocytosis Rate (%) Serum Hemolysin (OD Value) Carbon Clearance Index (K)
Normal Control 68.3±5.2 0.52±0.06 0.038±0.005
Model Group 42.7±4.1 0.28±0.04 0.021±0.003
Low Dose Taurine 51.4±4.8 0.35±0.05 0.027±0.004
Medium Dose Taurine 59.6±5.1 0.43±0.05 0.032±0.004
High Dose Taurine 64.2±4.7 0.48±0.06 0.036±0.005

The data clearly shows that taurine can significantly reverse the immunosuppressive state induced by cyclophosphamide, with all indicators showing obvious dose-dependent improvement2 .

Experimental Conclusion

Research shows that taurine can not only enhance the phagocytic ability of neutrophils but also promote antibody production and improve lymphocyte activity, comprehensively enhancing white blood cell function2 .

This provides experimental basis for understanding the role of taurine in immune regulation and also explains its potential value in anti-infection and immune support2 .

Taurine Content Comparison: Natural Sources vs Supplements

Understanding taurine content from different sources helps us make more informed dietary and supplementation choices. Below is a comparison of taurine content in some common sources:

Table 3: Taurine Content in Different Sources
Source Taurine Content Notes
Oysters 8-12 g/kg Significant content differences depending on origin
Breast Milk High concentration Meets growth and development needs of newborns and infants6
Energy Drinks Variable Check specific product ingredient list6
Formula Milk Appropriately added Compensates for insufficient self-synthesis in infants6
Typical Supplements 3-10g/day considered safe range European Food Safety Authority recommends no more than 100mg/kg body weight per person per day6
Scientists' Toolbox: Key Reagents for Taurine Research

In taurine research, scientists use a series of important reagents and research tools. Below is a梳理 of key reagents and their functions:

  • Taurine standard: Used to establish detection and quantitative analysis methods, the foundation of research2 .
  • Cyclophosphamide: An immunosuppressant used to establish experimental immunodeficiency models and evaluate the immunomodulatory effects of taurine2 .
  • Cell culture reagents:
    • RPMI-1640 medium: Used for in vitro culture of immune cells such as lymphocytes2 .
    • Calf serum: Provides essential nutritional factors for cell growth2 .
    • ConA (Concanavalin A): T lymphocyte mitogen used to stimulate lymphocyte transformation2 .
  • Detection reagents:
    • Myeloperoxidase (MPO) assay reagents: Evaluate neutrophil function3 .
    • Oxidative stress indicator detection reagents: Including MDA (malondialdehyde), SOD (superoxide dismutase) assay kits, used to evaluate the antioxidant capacity of taurine3 .
  • Animal models: Mice, rhesus monkeys, etc., used for in vivo studies of taurine's anti-aging and immunomodulatory effects3 5 .

From its first isolation in 1827 to today, taurine has evolved from a simple bile component to a key node connecting the complex network of nutrition, aging, and disease. Healthy ordinary people don't need to deliberately supplement, but for specific populations - such as infants with insufficient taurine synthesis capacity, certain disease patients - it may mean the difference between health and disease6 .

Science is still advancing amid debate, but one thing is becoming increasingly clear: in the story of taurine, balance and moderation are the eternal keys to health.

References