The Effect of Taurine Supplementation on Lipid Oxidation and Anaerobic Threshold in Obese Women Aged 25-45

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 MSc in Sports Physiology, Department of Exercise Physiology, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Science, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran

2 Associate Professor, Department of Exercise Physiology, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Science, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran

Abstract
Background and Purpose
Obesity, a prevalent metabolic disorder, is associated with increased fat and plasma glucose levels, insulin resistance, and the risk of type 2 diabetes. This condition is linked to inflammation, lipid disorders, and cardiovascular diseases. Taurine, a sulfur-containing amino acid, plays a key role in regulating glucose and lipid metabolism, reduces inflammation, and improves insulin resistance. Studies indicate that taurine, by enhancing fat oxidation and improving mitochondrial function, can aid in weight loss and metabolic improvement in obese individuals. Additionally, obese individuals exhabit lower values for physiological variables corresponding to anaerobic threshold (AT), indicating a faster shift from fat to carbohydrate metabolism. Taurine supplementation may delay the onset of AT and improve metabolic function by increasing fat oxidation, specially in obese people who experience lower valules for bodt’s taurine resourses. Therfore, the current study investigates the effects of taurine on fat oxidation and AT in obese individuals.
 
Materials and Methods
This quasi-experimental study employed a pretest-posttest design with repeated measurements. The study population consisted of 15 obese women aged 25 to 45 years from Kerman, Iran, with a BMI above 31, who were selected purposively. Inclusion criteria included general health, no menstrual cycle disorders, no use of medication or sports supplements for at least two months prior to the study, and a BMI above 31. Of these, 11 participants completed the study. The study was conducted in three sessions: the first session involved obtaining informed consent, body composition assessment, and familiarization with the incremental exercise test; the second session served as the pretest, including the incremental exercise test and blood sample collection before and after the test; and the third session, the posttest, repeated the second session 48 hours after the last day of taurine supplementation (50 mg per kg of body weight for 21 days). The incremental test was performed on a cycle ergometer, with breath-by-breath collection of respiratory gases indexes throughout the test using a Cortex device. The anaerobic threshold was defined as abrupt increase in ventilatory equivalent of oxygen (VE/VO2) graph. Fat oxidation was assessed through changes in plasma triglycerides (TG), RER, and energy derived from fat during exercise. Blood samples were collected before and after the test, and plasma TG levels were measured by ELISA. Data were analyzed using the Shapiro-Wilk test for normality, paired t-tests for pretest-posttest comparisons, and repeated measures ANOVA for TG and RER comparisons.
 
Findings
The current study examined the effects of 21 days of taurine supplementation on metabolic and functional indices in 11 obese women (mean age 34.53 ± 6.32 years, BMI 33.12 ± 3.23kg/m²). Anthropometric data included height (157.47 ± 3.87 cm), weight (82.17 ± 9.21 kg), and body fat percentage (40.19 ± 2.05). Taurine supplementation significantly reduced resting plasma TG levels by 26% (P < 0.01). Additionally, TG levels at the end of the incremental test were significantly lower after supplementation compared to the values of pretest (P < 0.01), although changes in TG during the incremental test were not significant between pretest and posttest. Taurine supplementation also significantly reduced RER values in the final 30 seconds of each stage of the incremental test (P < 0.05), indicating increased fat oxidation. Energy derived from fat during exercise also increased significantly (P < 0.05). These results suggest improved fat metabolism following supplementation. Regarding functional indices, taurine supplementation led to a significant increase in mamimal oxygen counsuption (VO2max) from 16.20 to 19.20 mL/kg/min (P< 0.05) and an increase in time to exhaustion during the incremental test from 531 to 573 seconds (P< 0.05). However, oxygen consumption and heart rate corresponding to AT did not change significantly. Maximum heart rate increased from 179 to 182 bpm, but this change was not significant. Overall, the findings indicate that 21 days of taurine supplementation can reduce plasma TG levels, enhance fat oxidation, and improve exercise performance. These results suggest a positive effect of taurine supplementation on fat metabolism and aerobic capacity in obese women.
 
Conclusion
The present study demonstrated that 21 days of taurine supplementation in obese women improved fat oxidation during rest and exercise and reduced plasma triglyceride levels. This result is likely due to changes in lipoprotein and free cholesterol profiles following taurine supplementation. Moreover, low-density lipoprotein concentrations have also been reported to be reduced after taurine supplementation. However, TG changes during the incremental test were not significantley different. This was probably due to the unsuitable conditions of the incremental test to determine fat burning during exercise, or due to being inactive, the subjects of the present study did not have the ability to burn fat during exercise. Neverthelese, the values of respiratory exchange ratio (RER) significantly decreased during exercise following supplement consumption, indicating the effectiveness of supplement consumption in increasing fat oxidation.
The significant decrease in RER values and the unchanged plasma TG during exercise probably means that the subjects used a fat source other than plasma fat, probably intramuscular triglyceride (IMTG). Additionally, Taurine supplementation increased VO2max and time to exhaustion during maximal exercise. However, no significant effects were observed on physiological variables corresponding to AT. Taurine supplementation has been shown to increase functional capacity, myocardial oxygen consumption, and cardiac electrical activity, which may lead to improved maximal oxygen consumption. In summery, the findings of the presnt study suggest that taurine may serve as a beneficial supplement for obese individuals by improving fat metabolism and enhancing functional capacity at high exercise intensities. Nevertheless, further research is necessary to investigate the effects of this supplement on submaximal variables and the precise mechanisms underlying its impact on fat metabolism.
 The Article's Message
Taurine supplementation may be a solution to improve exercise performance and tolerance in obese individuals, who typically exhibit low exercise tolerance capacity.
Ethical Considerations
All participants signed informed consent forms, and the Ethics Committee of Kerman University of Medical Sciences approved the study (IR.VK.REC.1401.012).
Conflict of Interest
According to the authors, this article has no conflicts of interest.
Acknowledgments
We sincerely thank all participants who assisted us in conducting this research. The research costs were covered by the authors.

Keywords

Main Subjects

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  • Receive Date 01 September 2024
  • Revise Date 06 February 2025
  • Accept Date 26 May 2024