Taurine: A Potential Ergogenic Aid for Preventing Muscle Damage and Protein Catabolism and Decreasing Oxidative Stress Produced by Endurance Exercise

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of taurine and chocolate milk supplementation on oxidative stress and protein metabolism markers, and aerobic parameters in triathletes.Methods: A double-blind, crossover study was conducted with 10 male triathletes, aged 30.9 ± 1.3 year, height 1.79 ± 0.01 m and body weight 77.45 ± 2.4 kg. Three grams of taurine and 400 ml of chocolate milk (TAUchoc), or a placebo (chocolate milk) (CHOC) was ingested post exercise for 8 weeks. Oxidative stress marker levels, and 24 h urinary nitrogen, creatinine, and urea excretion were measured before and after 8 weeks of training and supplementation with TAUchoc or CHOC. A maximal incremental running test on a treadmill was performed in order to evaluate aerobic parameters: Vmax, heart rate (HR) and rate of perceived exertion (RPE).Results: TAUchoc treatment during the 8 weeks resulted in increased taurine plasma levels (PRE 201.32 ± 29.03 μmol/L and POST 234.36 ± 35.51 μmol/L, p = 0.01), decreased malondialdehyde levels (19.4%, p = 0.03) and urinary nitrogen excretion (−33%, p = 0.03), and promoted positive nitrogen balance (p = 0.01). There were no changes in reduced glutathione (TAUchoc PRE 0.72 ± 0.08 mmol/L and POST 0.83 ± 0.08 mmol/L; CHOC PRE 0.69 ± 0.08 mmol/L and POST 0.81 ± 0.06 mmol/L), vitamin E plasma levels (TAUchoc PRE 33.99 ± 2.52 μmol/L and 35.95 ± 2.80 μmol/L and CHOC PRE 31.48 ± 2.12 μmol/L and POST 33.77 ± 3.64 μmol/L), or aerobic parameters, which were obtained in the last phase of the maximal incremental running test (Vmax TAUchoc PRE 13 ± 1.4 km/h and POST 13.22 ± 1.34 km/h; CHOC PRE 13.11 ± 2.34 km/h and POST 13.11 ± 2.72 km/h), the heart rate values were TAUchoc PRE 181.89 ± 24.18 bpm and POST 168.89 ± 46.56 bpm; CHOC PRE 181.56 ± 2.14 bpm and POST 179.78 ± 3.4 bpm, and the RPE were TAUchoc PRE 8.33 ± 2.4 AU and POST 9.1 ± 2.1 AU; CHOC PRE 8.11 ± 4.94 AU and POST 8.78 ± 2.78 AU).Conclusion: Taurine supplementation did not improve aerobic parameters, but was effective in increasing taurine plasma levels and decreasing oxidative stress markers, which suggests that taurine may prevent oxidative stress in triathletes.

Important roles of dietary taurine, creatine, carnosine, anserine and 4-hydroxyproline in human nutrition and health

“…The authors found that the ingestion of taurine improved overall endurance performance in the subjects. This conclusion is consistent with the recent findings that taurine is a potential ergogenic aid for preventing muscle damage, attenuating muscle protein catabolism, decreasing oxidative stress, and improving performance in subjects with endurance exercise (De Carvalho et al 2017;Page et al 2019;Paulucio et al 2017;Waldron et al 2019).…”

Effects of taurine supplementation in elite swimmers performance

“…The subjects were divided randomly into two groups: the placebo group (n = 7) and the taurine group (n = 7). The taurine group received 3g of taurine per day 7,20 , while the placebo group received 3g of starch flour, which was identical in appearance to taurine capsules.…”

“…The participants were instructed to intake 3 grams of pure taurine 7,20 or placebo, which refers to 3 capsules containing 1g of the supplement, every day in the morning before breakfast, during an eight-week period. The taurine powder was obtained from Ajinomoto (Aminoethylsulfonic Acid, Ajinomoto R, São Paulo, SP) and the capsules were manipulated by the Department of Industrial Pharmacy of the School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo.…”

“…Although taurine can be obtained by endogenous synthesis, there are reports in the literature showing the endogenous production is insufficient for attending the body requirement of taurine. This non-essential amino participates in numerous biological and physiological functions like regulation of calcium homeostasis in both skeletal muscle and cardiac tissue 1,2 , increases muscle force 3 and insulin sensitivity 4 , improves energy expenditure 5 and lipid metabolism 6 and prevents oxidative stress in athletes 7 . Therefore, taurine must be obtained by food intake and can be found mainly in fish and seafood 2 .…”

“…Among the functions related to taurine is the regulation of intracellular calcium levels (Ca 2 +), membrane stabilizing 2,8 , antioxidant 7,8 and anti-inflammatory processes 9,10 . Taurine can modulate glucose metabolism potentiating the hepatic and muscular insulin signaling pathways 4,11. Also, this amino acid modulates the use of lipids, stimulating the expression of genes related to the production of the following enzymes: lipoprotein lipase, acyl-CoA oxidase, acyl-CoA synthase, and acyl-CoA dehydrogenase, which are involved in the metabolism of lipid substrates 5 .…”