Written by Halima Phelps, Staff Writer. This study demonstrated that supplementing with 50 mg/kg of taurine 2 hours prior to training improved physical performance and stamina and attenuated the acceleration of internal body temperature.
The amino acid taurine has extensive applications beyond its public reputation as an energy drink additive: such as preventing mitochondrial oxidation, promoting calcium uptake in human sarcoplasmic reticulum, and possessing a role in bile acid conjugation.1,2 Here, taurine is studied for its ability to affect biological heat production and endurance during cycling within a heated chamber.3
In this double-blind, randomized cross-over study, 11 fit males participated in cycling under conditions of thermal strain and were evaluated for the capacity of taurine to minimize an increasing internal body temperature and maximize exercise endurance in a controlled heat setting (35°C; 40% relative humidity): (age 23 ± 2 years, stature 180 ± 60 cm, body mass 83.0 ± 9.5 kg, maximal oxygen uptake (V˙O2max ) 46.0 ± 6.3 ml min−1 kg−1 , maximal aerobic power output (305 ± 29 W). 3 Participants cycled at 120W, adding 24W min-1 at 80 revolutions min-1 until they could no longer sustain cycling or fell below 70 rev min-1 beyond 10 s. 3 Prior to these trials, core temperature was measured via rectally, and hydration was evaluated via urine sample. If under-hydrated, 500 mL of water was ingested with a 30 min pause before trial; along with a recording of body mass with rectal and skin thermistors attached to the chest and various upper and lower extremity regions to measure surface temperature. 3 The participants were given either oral taurine (50 mg kg-1 BM) or a maltodextrin (3 mg kg-1 BM) placebo 2 hrs before trial, then were evaluated for verbal ratings of perceived exertion, thermal comfort, and thermal sensation every 3 minutes and at the end. 3 Blood lactate (B [La]) was also measured via a sample from the right earlobe, and skin thermistors were weighed following exercise for hydration loss.3
Results revealed taurine increased endurance ~10% by lengthening the time participants could sustain cycling activity (taurine = 25.16 min compared to placebo = 22.43 min, p = 0.040), increased perspiration and therefore heat tolerance ~13% (taurine = 687 ± 144 nL min−1 compared to placebo = 600 ± 194 nL min−1, p = 0.034), and reduced B[La] levels: thereby reducing muscle fatigue ~16.5% (taurine = 5.75 ± 2.15 mmol L−1 v.s. placebo = 6.85 ± 1.77 mmol L−1, p = 0.033).3 Core temperature was lower only at the end, which reflected taurine’s ability to maintain a balanced internal body temperature (taurine = 38.1 ± 0.4°C v.s. placebo = 38.5 ± 0.4°C, p = 0.049).3 These alterations in perspiration time, blood lactate levels, and end core temperature by taurine consequently improved the physiological ability to sustain
The results of this study suggest that taurine supplementation may enhance the endurance parameters of a specific exercise. However, before specific recommendations can be made, these results need to be replicated in larger clinical trials.
Source: Page, Lee Kevin, Owen Jeffries, and Mark Waldron. “Acute taurine supplementation enhances thermoregulation and endurance cycling performance in the heat.” European journal of sport science 19, no. 8 (2019): 1101-1109.
© 2019 European College of Sport Science
Posted June 16, 2020.
Resources:
- Hansen SH, Andersen ML, Birkedal H, Cornett C, Wibrand F. The important role of taurine in oxidative metabolism. Adv Exp Med Biol. 2006;583:129-135.
- Dutka TL, Lamboley CR, Murphy RM, Lamb GD. Acute effects of taurine on sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ accumulation and contractility in human type I and type II skeletal muscle fibers. Journal of applied physiology (Bethesda, Md : 1985). 2014;117(7):797-805.
- Page LK, Jeffries O, Waldron M. Acute taurine supplementation enhances thermoregulation and endurance cycling performance in the heat. Eur J Sport Sci. 2019;19(8):1101-1109.
