Like Beet Juice, Taurine Supplementation May Only Be Safe in the Context of a Plant-Based Diet

The adverse effects of taurine on our microbiome and hydrogen sulfide production may be ameliorated by diets high in fiber and low in saturated fats. That was a lot, I know, so let me try to break it down a bit. Taurine is turned into the “rotten egg” gas hydrogen sulfide. (You’ll smell it coming out of your rear should you decide to try it.) It doesn’t just stink, but it does damage DNA. However, the byproducts of fiber metabolism can counteract the damaged caused by hydrogen sulfide. That’s where a high-fiber diet comes in, so eat lots of legumes and whole grains. Then there’s the saturated fat that promotes the growth of the bad bacteria that generate hydrogen sulfide and more of the cancer-promoting secondary bile acids. So, just as you should not be doping with beet juice or nitrate supplements unless you’re eating plant-based, you probably shouldn’t supplement with taurine unless you’re on a plant-predominant diet. In fact, it might not be a good idea to supplement with taurine at all—unless the benefits seen in rodents and monkeys translate to humans, possibly making it a great idea. Recently, new research questioned a fundamental pillar of the taurine anti-aging narrative: Taurine levels don’t (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40472098/) appear to decrease with age after all, challenging (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40481202/) the underlying logic of supplementation. This was the last video in a seven-part series on taurine. If you missed the previous ones, check out: • What Is Taurine in Energy Drinks? Does It Benefit Cognitive or Athletic Performance? (https://nutritionfacts.org/video/what-is-taurine-in-energy-drinks-does-it-benefit-cognitive-or-athletic-performance) • Taurine Supplementation Increases Lifespan and Healthspan in Animals (https://nutritionfacts.org/video/-taurine-supplementation-increases-lifespan-and-healthspan-in-animals) • Randomized Controlled Trials of Taurine Supplementation in Humans (https://nutritionfacts.org/video/randomized-controlled-trials-of-taurine-supplementation-in-humans) • Caveats and Side Effects of Taurine Supplements (https://nutritionfacts.org/video/caveats-and-side-effects-of-taurine-supplements) • The Best Daily Dose of Taurine (https://nutritionfacts.org/video/the-best-daily-dose-of-taurine) • Where to Find Taurine and the Best Source (https://nutritionfacts.org/video/where-to-find-taurine-and-the-best-source) For more on longevity, go to your local public library and check out my book, How Not to Age (https://nutritionfacts.org/book/how-not-to-age/), available in print, e-book, and audio. (All proceeds I receive from the book are donated directly to charity.) New subscribers to our e-newsletter always receive a free gift. Get yours here: https://nutritionfacts.org/subscribe/. Have a question about this video? Leave it in the comment section at http://nutritionfacts.org/video/like-beet-juice-taurine-supplementation-may-only-be-safe-in-the-context-of-a-plant-based-diet and someone on the NutritionFacts.org team will try to answer it. Want to get a list of links to all the scientific sources used in this video? Click on Sources Cited at https://nutritionfacts.org/video/like-beet-juice-taurine-supplementation-may-only-be-safe-in-the-context-of-a-plant-based-diet. You’ll also find a transcript and acknowledgements for the video, my blog and speaking tour schedule, and an easy way to search (by translated language even) through our videos spanning more than 2,000 health topics. Thanks for watching. I hope you’ll join in the evidence-based nutrition revolution! -Michael Greger, MD FACLM Captions for this video are available in several languages; you can find yours in the video settings. View important information about our translated resources: https://nutritionfacts.org/translations-info/ https://NutritionFacts.org • Subscribe: https://nutritionfacts.org/subscribe • Donate: https://nutritionfacts.org/donate • Podcast : https://nutritionfacts.org/audio • Books: https://nutritionfacts.org/books • Shop: https://drgreger.org • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NutritionFacts.org • Twitter: https://twitter.com/nutrition_facts • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nutrition_facts_org