A recent article published in Frontiers in Physiology reported on a recent finding that taurine level is increased during exercise performance with a decrease in oxidative damage in overused muscles. Meanwhile, short-term supplementation with taurine increases physiological performance during severe work intensities. This implies a role of taurine in improving muscle performance during exercise. 

Cysteine – the precursor of taurine, is used in the synthesis of other compounds like GSH and Coenzyme A—important for regulating the redox system and energy homeostasis. Thus, it is important to find out if taurine synthesis within the cells can blunt the activity of other compounds that are beneficial in preventing oxidative damage during intense exercise. In addition, it is necessary to assess whether taurine supplementation can prevent the sequelae of physiological stress in muscles. 

Taurine reverses muscle fatigue in several ways—by controlling mitochondrial ROS production, regulating membrane potential, preventing DNA damage, and inducing muscle regulatory proteins. Synthesis of taurine as a means of endogenously improving exercise performance is a major task. Optimal ROS generation due to exercise may facilitate the synthesis of taurine in various ways, but how this is achieved through exercise-mediated ROS is yet to be established. 

Moreover, the mechanism that drives ROS-induced effects in combination with taurine supplementation is must be established.

Source: Frontiers in Physiology. 2020; 11: 582449. Published online 2020 Oct26. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2020.582449