Effects Of Daily Taurine Intake For 6 Months On Biological Age and Body Metabolism Indicators As Well As Physical Fitness In 55-75-year-old Women And Men

Effect Of Daily Taurine Supplementation For 6 Months On Biological Age and Metabolic Biomarkers As Well As Physical Fitness In 55-75-year-old Women And Men: A Randomized Controlled Intervention Study

The goal of this clinical trial is to investigate the effect of taking 4 grams of taurine by older adults on aging processes over a period of 6 months. It will also check for effects of taurine on participant's physical fitness, metabolic and cognitive functions. The main question it aims to answer is:

• Does a supplementation with 4 g of taurine daily over a period of 6 months slow down biological aging in humans? Researchers will compare supplementation with taurine to a placebo (a look-alike substance that contains no drug) to reliably determine whether taurine has an effect.

Participants will:

• Take 4g of taurine or a placebo every day for 6 months
• Visit the study site 4 times for checkups and tests: for a screening visit, at the beginning of the intervention, after 8 and 24 weeks

Measurements performed during study visits:

• Biological age estimate via proteome analysis
• Organ age estimates (proteomics)
• DNA methylation
• Inflammatory biomarkers (CRP, cytokines)
• Metabolic variables: fasting blood glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR, HbA1c, lipids, BMI
• Physical fitness (hand grip strength, leg extensor strength, PWC130)
• Resting energy expenditure
• Cognitive function via questionnaire
• Quality of life
• Heart rate variability
• Physical activity, nutrition

Inclusion Criteria:

• women or men
• Age 55 - 75
• BMI 22 - 30 kg/m²
• written consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Acute or chronic inflammation (e.g. flu infection)
• Severe chronic illness (e.g., Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes mellitus, COPD, renal insufficiency)
• Myocardial infarction or stroke in the previous 6 months
• Psychiatric disorder, including depression or dementia
• Weight change of ≥ 5 kg in the last 6 months