Taurine is a nutrient-like molecule found in meat, fish and seafood. A 2023 study reported that taurine extended lifespan in mice by about 10 to 12 percent, improved health in monkeys, and that blood levels fall with age in humans. But a 2025 study following people, monkeys and mice over time found taurine levels stay stable or even rise with age in healthy individuals. So the idea that we "run out" of taurine is now doubtful. Human trials are still underway; for now, taurine is an interesting animal result, not a proven anti-aging supplement.
- SymptomCells age and tissues weaken
- Before thatSeveral hallmarks of aging speed up
- Before thatClaimed: the body runs low on taurine
- RootUnclear: in humans, taurine may not actually decline
What taurine is
Taurine is a small molecule your body makes in modest amounts and gets from food, mostly fish, seafood and meat. It's often called an amino acid, a building block of protein, though unlike most amino acids it isn't used to build proteins. Instead it helps with jobs like balancing fluids and minerals inside cells, supporting the heart and eyes, and forming bile, which helps you digest fat.
It's famous mostly for being in energy drinks. That changed in 2023.
The 2023 breakthrough
A large international team reported in Science that blood taurine levels fall with age in mice, monkeys and humans. Then they supplemented it. Mice given taurine lived about 10 to 12 percent longer, and middle-aged monkeys showed better health markers, including bone strength, metabolism (how the body processes fuel) and immune function. Taurine also slowed several hallmarks of aging, the main processes scientists agree drive aging, in their experiments.[1]
The authors concluded taurine deficiency might be a driver of aging and called for human trials. Headlines followed.
The 2025 plot twist
Here's the upstream question: is there really a taurine deficiency to fix? In 2025, a team led by researchers at the US National Institutes of Health published a study, also in Science, that tracked taurine in the same individuals over time, in humans, monkeys and mice. In healthy individuals, taurine levels stayed stable or went up with age. Differences between people were driven more by diet, sex and individual variation than by age, and taurine levels didn't consistently predict health.[2]
Outside experts called the new study well designed. It doesn't prove taurine supplements are useless. It does undermine the core story that aging drains our taurine, which was the main reason to take it.
Taurine levels crash as you age, so supplementing slows aging.
The lifespan results are in mice. In humans followed over time, taurine didn't consistently decline. Whether supplements help people is still untested.
Why this story matters beyond taurine
This is a perfect example of how longevity science really works. A single exciting study, even in a top journal, is a starting point, not an answer. Mouse lifespan results often fail to translate to humans, and "levels fall with age" can depend heavily on how you measure. That's why we grade evidence instead of repeating headlines. Read more about how we research.
What to do with this now
- Eat taurine-rich foods if they fit your diet: fish and seafood bring plenty of other benefits too.
- Don't use energy drinks as a taurine source.
- If you're curious about supplements, talk to your doctor and treat it as an experiment with unproven benefits.
- Watch for human trial results; they will settle the question far better than mouse data.
The bottom line
Taurine went from energy-drink filler to longevity headline in 2023, and back to "promising but unproven" by 2025. It extends life in mice, but the claim that humans run low with age didn't hold up in a careful long-term study. Until human trials report, taurine stays in our "interesting, not proven" tier. See where it ranks in the best supplements for longevity, graded.
Frequently asked questions
What foods contain taurine?
Taurine is found mainly in animal foods: fish, shellfish such as clams and scallops, meat and dark poultry meat. Plant foods contain very little, so vegans tend to have lower intake.
Do energy drinks give you taurine benefits?
Energy drinks contain taurine, but also lots of caffeine and often sugar. Any potential taurine benefit wouldn't outweigh drinking them regularly. They're not a longevity strategy.
Is taurine safe?
Taurine has generally been well tolerated in human studies at a few grams a day. But long-term safety at high supplement doses isn't well established. Talk to your doctor first, especially if you take medication.
Should I take taurine for longevity?
The human evidence isn't there yet. One of the 2025 study's authors said there's no need for taurine supplements if you eat a healthy diet. Results from human trials are expected; we'll update this page when they arrive.
Sources
- Singh P, et al. Taurine deficiency as a driver of aging. Science, 2023.
- Fernandez ME, et al. Is taurine an aging biomarker? Science, 2025.