What does taurine do in your body?
Taurine has demonstrable functions in the retina, the heart and the brain, and its importance for infants is well-established enough to warrant its standard inclusion in infant formula. For ageing and weight management, the evidence in humans is still too thin to draw conclusions.
Taurine is a substance your body produces on its own and that you also obtain through meat and fish. It is found in high concentrations in the brain, the heart and the retina, and that is no coincidence.
In the brain, taurine dampens excessive nerve activity and helps cells maintain their volume, for example during dehydration or when blood salt levels are high. This has been demonstrated in animal studies, with indications that the same applies in humans. For the retina, taurine is probably indispensable: infants fed intravenously without taurine developed problems with retinal development. This is partly why taurine is now included in virtually all infant formula, standardly at around 50 mg per litre. In eye conditions, taurine appears to neutralise harmful oxygen particles and activate protective enzymes, but whether it genuinely slows retinal disease in humans has not yet been tested.
The evidence is strongest for the heart: studies in humans and animals point to improved blood pressure regulation and cardiac function, and in Japan taurine has been approved as a treatment for heart failure. In research, people with heart failure were given taurine, but a fixed daily dose is not mentioned in the available summaries. If you wish to use taurine for cardiovascular complaints, discuss this with your doctor. Taurine also supports the energy centres of the cell, which may be relevant in ageing and metabolic disorders.
For ageing, weight management and sports performance, the evidence in humans is too thin. In animal studies, taurine helps counter fat accumulation and extends lifespan, but human trials are lacking. A supplement for these purposes is too poorly studied to recommend. The amount of taurine in energy drinks is too small to have any effect, positive or negative; the risks of energy drinks come from the caffeine, not from the taurine.
All claims are based on reviews (no randomised trials or meta-analyses in the source list). Most effects are biologically plausible and partly confirmed in humans, but for some applications (anti-ageing, obesity) the evidence is still almost exclusively derived from animal and laboratory studies.
How does metformin work in your body?
Metformin lowers blood sugar primarily by causing the liver to produce less new glucose, without the risk of dangerously low blood sugar. Exactly how all the pieces of the mechanism fit together is not yet fully clear.
Does berberine help with weight loss?
Berberine leads to modest weight loss in some studies, but a large, well-designed study found no effect on visceral abdominal fat. It is not a powerful slimming agent, but may offer additional benefits for people with elevated cholesterol.
What is NAD+ and what does it do in your body?
NAD+ is an indispensable molecule for energy, DNA repair and cell health, but the question of whether you should actively raise those levels for better health has not yet been answered for humans.
Does metformin help with weight loss?
Metformin helps with weight loss, but the effect is modest: expect a few kilograms, not a dramatic transformation. Lifestyle changes work better in the short term, but weight loss with metformin remains stable over the long term. Discuss it with your doctor if you want to know whether it suits your situation.
Does berberine help against high blood sugar (the natural metformin)?
Approach this with caution. Berberine measurably lowers blood sugar, but EFSA was unable to establish a safe intake level due to indications of DNA damage and liver injury, an EU procedure is underway that could lead to restrictions, and it has strong interactions with medications. Do not use it on your own, especially not alongside diabetes medication or during pregnancy.
What does insulin do to the ageing process?
Chronically too much insulin is probably bad for healthy ageing, but science does not yet know precisely what the ideal insulin balance is for you. Eating less processed food and moving more are the best-supported steps for keeping your insulin metabolism in good shape.