The Pure Merchandise Affiliation (NPA) commerce group said that opposite to sensationalized headlines and speculative conclusions, the research doesn’t exhibit that dietary taurine consumption causes leukemia or poses a security threat to shoppers.
“Whereas the media and the authors are unabashedly and irresponsibly positioning the research that dietary consumption of taurine results in leukemia, nothing may very well be farther from the reality,” mentioned Daniel Fabricant, PhD, president and CEO at NPA.
Carried out by researchers from College of Rochester Medical Middle and printed within the journal Nature on Could 14, the research was shortly picked up by native and nationwide information sources.
Though not aligned with the research findings, headlines included “Frequent Power Drink Ingredient Linked to Blood Most cancers” and “May Your Power Drink Be Feeding Most cancers? What Scientists Simply Found.”
Linking taurine to leukemia
Taurine, which was first remoted by German scientists in 1827 from ox bile, is a semi-essential amino acid present in meat, fish, eggs and seaweed. It’s naturally occurring within the human physique and helps digestive, cardiovascular, skeletal, eye, muscular and nervous system capabilities.
Extra just lately, research have explored its potential as healthy aging compound resulting from its capacity to scavenge the poisonous results of reactive oxygen species that harm cells over time. NPA additionally highlighted taurine’s essential position in bone well being and the operate of bone marrow stem cells.
Within the College of Rochester research, the investigators from the Wilmot Most cancers Institute reported that they have been capable of block the expansion of leukemia in mouse fashions and in human leukemia cell samples by utilizing genetic instruments to forestall taurine from coming into most cancers cells.
“We’re very enthusiastic about these research as a result of they exhibit that concentrating on uptake by myeloid leukemia cells could also be a attainable new avenue for remedy of those aggressive ailments,” Jeevisha Bajaj, PhD, lead writer on the research, shared in College of Rochester Medical Middle press launch titled “A Downside of Taurine: It Drives Leukemia Growth.”
Commenting on the research, Dr. Mark Miller, PhD, MBA, FACN, CNS, president of Kaiviti Consulting, mentioned the findings counsel that taurine could exacerbate myeloid leukemia, particularly as it’s typically used throughout chemotherapy, however that some could misread that taurine promotes most cancers in a wholesome inhabitants.
“What the research reveals is that most cancers cells (finished in vitro and in mouse fashions) are vitality hogs, and thru glycolytic pathways, taurine (and its transporter methods) might help provide the vitality most cancers cells want,” he defined. “In different phrases, the research reveals that it helps pre-established most cancers cells propagate.”
He added that, primarily based on this analysis, which makes use of doses lots of of instances in extra than these present in dietary dietary supplements, taurine supplementation shouldn’t be a trigger for any concern.
The issue with extrapolating conclusions
Whereas the research focuses on features of vitality availability that help most cancers cell replication and development, the researchers included one sentence cautioning in opposition to taurine supplementation—the sentence picked up by the media.
“Since taurine is a standard ingredient in vitality drinks and is usually offered as a complement to mitigate the negative effects of chemotherapy, our work means that it could be of curiosity to rigorously contemplate the advantages of supplemental taurine in leukemia sufferers,” they wrote.
Jeff Ventura, vp of communications on the Council for Accountable Diet, mentioned the issue is that media protection of the research has been sensationalized by making it sound like taurine is harmful to most of the people.
“In actuality, this analysis checked out a really particular and uncommon kind of leukemia in mice, utilizing genetic instruments and lab fashions that don’t replicate how taurine is utilized in on a regular basis life,” he famous.
“The research doesn’t say something concerning the security of taurine for wholesome folks or counsel that standard dietary or complement use is dangerous. You must contemplate that taurine has an extended observe file of advantages for coronary heart, mind and general well being. Suggesting that taurine is broadly harmful primarily based on this research is an enormous headline-grabbing leap.”
NPA emphasised that taurine has well-established security profiles, as acknowledged by well being authorities world wide.
“These authorities have persistently discovered no antagonistic results at day by day consumption ranges starting from 1,500 to three,000 mg, and in some circumstances, even greater quantities have been deemed secure,” the affiliation shared in a press launch, noting that this newest research “does completely nothing” to alter this well-document security file.
“The analysis is taking a look at remoted cell signaling—making use of that broadly to all supplemental or vitality drink consumption is obvious irresponsible and seems to be a scare tactic to generate funding and media consideration,” Dr. Fabricant added.
“If the research didn’t point out dietary supplements, it’s unlikely anybody outdoors of a analysis lab would have even observed it. This isn’t a human security research. It’s a laboratory research and needs to be handled as such.”
