Taurine and Metabolic Disorders: From Mechanisms to Clinical Implications.

BACKGROUND: Taurine (2-aminoethanesulfonic acid) is a conditionally essential, sulfur-containing amino acid that has attracted growing interest for its multifaceted role in metabolic regulation. Unlike proteinogenic amino acids, taurine exerts diverse physiological functions, including bile acid conjugation, osmoregulation, antioxidant defense, and mitochondrial support. Emerging evidence indicates that taurine modulates key metabolic processes implicated in obesity, type 2 diabetes, metabolic dysfunction-associated liver disease, and metabolic syndrome. Mechanistically, taurine influences insulin signaling, lipid oxidation, inflammatory cascades (e.g., nuclear factor-kappa B), and energy metabolism via pathways involving AMP-activated protein kinase, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha, and mitochondrial function. Preclinical models demonstrate improvements in insulin sensitivity and inflammatory profiles with taurine administration. Human trials, though limited in scale and heterogenous in design, suggest potential benefits in glycemic control and lipid metabolism. However, inconsistencies in dosage, duration, and subject stratification limit the generalizability of findings.

SUMMARY: This review synthesizes current data on taurine biological activity and its relevance to metabolic pathophysiology.

KEY MESSAGE: Taurine shows promise as a multifunctional metabolic regulator capable of influencing insulin sensitivity, lipid metabolism, and inflammation.