Taurine, an amino acid supplement, is studied for heart, exercise and longevity benefits. Human trials best support small blood pressure and blood sugar improvements and better endurance; blood-fat and heart failure benefits are less consistent; thinking benefits have not held up. Longer life appears only in animals. Months-long trials at commonly studied amounts show side effects no more common than placebo; safety with medicines or advanced kidney disease is unclear. (Full Review)
| Marker | Target | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Blood pressure | <120/80 mm Hg | Expected to change; low readings change use |
| HbA1c | 4.0–5.6% | Expected to change |
| Fasting glucose | 70–99 mg/dL | Expected to change; low values change use with glucose-lowering drugs |
| Triglycerides | <150 mg/dL | Expected to change |
| LDL cholesterol | <100 mg/dL | Expected to change |
| eGFR and creatinine | eGFR ≥60 mL/min/1.73 m²; creatinine about 0.6–1.3 mg/dL | Safety check; low values stop or reduce use |
| ALT | 7–55 U/L | Safety check and expected to change |
| Plasma taurine | No established target; track change from own baseline | Expected to change |
Cadence: Baseline panel before starting; home blood pressure weekly during the first month, then monthly; fasting glucose, HbA1c and lipids at 8–12 weeks, then every 6–12 months; kidney and liver function at 12 weeks, then yearly; home readings during the first 2 weeks with blood-pressure or glucose-lowering drugs