Regulation of glucose and lipid metabolism by the pancreatic and extra-pancreatic actions of taurine

Taurine reduces the risk for metabolic syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

BACKGROUND

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of interconnected risk factors that significantly increase the likelihood of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Taurine has emerged as a potential therapeutic agent for MetS. This meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) aimed to evaluate the effects of taurine supplementation on MetS-related parameters.

METHODS

We conducted electronic searches through databases like Embase, PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane CENTRAL, and ClinicalTrials.gov, encompassing publications up to December 1, 2023. Our analysis focused on established MetS diagnostic criteria, including systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), fasting blood glucose (FBG), triglyceride (TG), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). Meta-regression explored potential dose-dependent relationships based on the total taurine dose administered during the treatment period. We also assessed secondary outcomes like body composition, lipid profile, and glycemic control.

RESULTS

Our analysis included 1024 participants from 25 RCTs. The daily dosage of taurine in the studies ranged from 0.5 g/day to 6 g/day, with follow-up periods varying between 5 and 365 days. Compared to control groups, taurine supplementation demonstrated statistically significant reductions in SBP (weighted mean difference [WMD] = -3.999 mmHg, 95% confidence interval [CI] = -7.293 to -0.706, p = 0.017), DBP (WMD = -1.509 mmHg, 95% CI = -2.479 to -0.539, p = 0.002), FBG (WMD: -5.882 mg/dL, 95% CI: -10.747 to -1.018, p = 0.018), TG (WMD: -18.315 mg/dL, 95% CI: -25.628 to -11.002, p < 0.001), but not in HDL-C (WMD: 0.644 mg/dl, 95% CI: -0.244 to 1.532, p = 0.155). Meta-regression analysis revealed a dose-dependent reduction in DBP (coefficient = -0.0108 mmHg per g, p = 0.0297) and FBG (coefficient = -0.0445 mg/dL per g, p = 0.0273). No significant adverse effects were observed compared to the control group.

CONCLUSION

Taurine supplementation exhibits positive effects on multiple MetS-related factors, making it a potential dietary addition for individuals at risk of or already experiencing MetS. Future research may explore dose-optimization strategies and potential long-term benefits of taurine for MetS management.

Dietary Taurine Supplementation Improves the Meat Quality, Muscle Fiber Type, and Mitochondrial Function of Finishing Pigs

This study investigated the effects of dietary supplementation with taurine (TAU) on the meat quality, muscle fiber type, and mitochondrial function of finishing pigs. The results demonstrated that TAU significantly increased the a* value while decreasing b*45 min, L*24 h, and drip loss24 h and drip loss48 h in the longissimus dorsi (LD) muscle. Dietary supplemented with TAU reduced the content of lactate and the glycolytic potential (GP) in the LD muscle. Dietary supplemented with TAU enhanced the oxidative fiber-related gene expression as well as increased succinic dehydrogenase and malate dehydrogenase activities while reducing lactate dehydrogenase activity. Furthermore, dietary supplementation with TAU increased the contents of mtDNA and ATP and mitochondrial function-related gene expression. Moreover, TAU enhanced the mRNA expressions of calcineurin (CaN) and nuclear factor of activated T cells c1 (NFATc1) and protein expressions of CNA and NFATc1. The results indicate that dietary TAU supplementation improves meat quality and mitochondrial biogenesis and function and promotes muscle fiber-type conversion from the glycolytic fiber to the oxidative fiber via the CaN/NFATc1 pathway.

Effects of acute taurine consumption on single bout of muscular endurance resistance exercise performance and recovery in resistance trained young male adults

Study aim: This study investigated the effect of taurine supplementation on exercise performance and recovery from resistance exercise. The study was conducted with a cross-over design in a double-blind manner.

Material and methods: Ten resistance trained males (age 21.4 ± 2.01 years; BMI: 23.6 ± 2.5 kg/m²) ingested either a taurine (0.1g/kg) supplement or placebo (18 mg aspartame) prior to resistance exercise. Vertical jump, flexibility, balance, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, heart rate (HR), maximal voluntary muscle contraction, speed, lactate, glucose and perceived soreness and strain were assessed. The subjects performed two exercise trials with 1 week wash out interval. Blood samples were collected at baseline and before each exercise (chest press, abdominal crunch and leg extension) to analyse plasma levels of lactate and glucose.

Results: Paired-T test results showed statistically significant increment (p < 0.05) in total volume (kg × #repetitions), chest press volume and leg extension volume. Repeated measure ANOVA results demonstrated statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) in lactate and flexibility in trial and time, and in maximal voluntary isometric muscle contraction (MVIC) test in time, trial and trial × time in favour taurine group. No statistically significant differences were found in cardiovascular parameters, glucose, and balance parameters (p > 0.05).

Conclusion: In conclusion, 0.1 g/kg of taurine consumption before resistance exercise could positively affect exercise performance by increasing exercise volume and reducing lactate levels.

Protective and therapeutic effectiveness of taurine supplementation plus low calorie diet on metabolic parameters and endothelial markers in patients with diabetes mellitus: a randomized, clinical trial

Background

Taurine supplementation as a sulfur-containing amino acid may attenuate and/or alleviate diabetes-induced complications and endothelial dysfunction via its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. Our purpose was to investigate the effect of Taurine supplementation on endothelial dysfunction markers, oxidative stress, inflammation, and glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Methods

In the current clinical trial, 120 patients with T2DM were randomly allocated to take either Taurine (containing 1 g Taurine, n = 60) or placebo (n = 60) three times per day for an eight-week period. Moreover, all patients were on a low-calorie diet. The primary outcome was fasting blood glucose (FBG) and endothelial markers including sera intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM), and matrix metallopeptidase 9 (MMP-9). The secondary outcome was dietary intake, anthropometric indices, serum insulin and Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), malondialdehyde (MDA), and lipid profile.

Results

After 8 weeks, Taurine-supplemented patients had a considerable decrease in serum insulin and HOMA-IR compared to placebo group. However, Taurine supplementation did not improve other metabolic parameters including lipid profiles, glycated hemoglobin, and fasting blood glucose (FBG). There was a significant decline in MDA, TNF, and hs-CRP levels after these eight-week period of Taurine supplementation. In addition, the Taurine group had fewer serum levels of endothelial dysfunction markers than the placebo group.

Conclusions

The evidence from our study revealed that Taurine supplementation significantly reduced insulin and HOMA-IR, as well as oxidative stress, inflammation, and endothelial markers in individuals with T2DM.

Trial registration The protocol of the study was recorded in the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT20180712040438N3).

A Key Metabolic Regulator of Bone and Cartilage Health

Taurine, a cysteine-derived zwitterionic sulfonic acid, is a common ingredient in energy drinks and is naturally found in fish and other seafood. In humans, taurine is produced mainly in the liver, and it can also be obtained from food. In target tissues, such as the retina, heart, and skeletal muscle, it functions as an essential antioxidant, osmolyte, and antiapoptotic agent. Taurine is also involved in energy metabolism and calcium homeostasis. Taurine plays a considerable role in bone growth and development, and high-profile reports have demonstrated the importance of its metabolism for bone health. However, these reports have not been collated for more than 10 years. Therefore, this review focuses on taurine-bone interactions and covers recently discovered aspects of taurine's effects on osteoblastogenesis, osteoclastogenesis, bone structure, and bone pathologies (e.g., osteoporosis and fracture healing), with due attention to the taurine-cartilage relationship.

Reduction of ROS-HIF1α-driven glycolysis by taurine alleviates Streptococcus uberis infection

Antibiotic-resistant strains of Streptococcus uberis (S. uberis) frequently cause clinical mastitis in dairy cows resulting in enormous economic losses. The regulation of immunometabolism is a promising strategy for controlling this bacterial infection. To investigate whether taurine alleviates S. uberis infection by the regulation of host glycolysis via HIF1α, the murine mammary epithelial cell line (EpH4-Ev) and C57BL/6J mice were challenged with S. uberis. Our data indicate that HIF1α-driven glycolysis promotes inflammation and damage in response to the S. uberis challenge. The activation of HIF1α is dependent on mTOR-mediated ROS production. These results were confirmed in vivo. Taurine, an intracellular metabolite present in most animal tissues, has been shown to effectively modulate HIF1α-triggered metabolic reprogramming and contributes to a reduction of inflammation, which reduces mammary tissue damage and prevents mammary gland dysfunction in S. uberis-induced mastitis. These data provide a novel putative prophylactic and therapeutic strategy for amelioration of dairy cow mastitis and bacterial inflammation.

Metabolic and Metabo-Clinical Signatures of Type 2 Diabetes, Obesity, Retinopathy, and Dyslipidemia

Macro- and microvascular complications of type 2 diabetes (T2D), obesity, and dyslipidemia share common metabolic pathways. In this study, using a total of 1,300 metabolites from 996 Qatari adults (57% with T2D) and 1,159 metabolites from an independent cohort of 2,618 individuals from the Qatar BioBank (11% with T2D), we identified 373 metabolites associated with T2D, obesity, retinopathy, dyslipidemia, and lipoprotein levels, 161 of which were novel. Novel metabolites included phospholipids, sphingolipids, lysolipids, fatty acids, dipeptides, and metabolites of the urea cycle and xanthine, steroid, and glutathione metabolism. The identified metabolites enrich pathways of oxidative stress, lipotoxicity, glucotoxicity, and proteolysis. Second, we identified 15 patterns we defined as "metabo-clinical signatures." These are clusters of patients with T2D who group together based on metabolite levels and reveal the same clustering in two or more clinical variables (obesity, LDL, HDL, triglycerides, and retinopathy). These signatures revealed metabolic pathways associated with different clinical patterns and identified patients with extreme (very high/low) clinical variables associated with extreme metabolite levels in specific pathways. Among our novel findings are the role of N-acetylmethionine in retinopathy in conjunction with dyslipidemia and the possible roles of N-acetylvaline and pyroglutamine in association with high cholesterol levels and kidney function.

Effects of paternal overnutrition and interventions on future generations

In the last two decades, evidence from human and animal studies suggests that paternal obesity around the time of conception can have adverse effects on offspring health through developmental programming. This may make significant contributions to the current epidemic of obesity and related metabolic and reproductive complications like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and subfertility/infertility. To date, changes in seminal fluid composition, sperm DNA methylation, histone composition, small non-coding RNAs, and sperm DNA damage have been proposed as potential underpinning mechanism to program offspring health. In this review, we discuss current human and rodent evidence on the impact of paternal obesity/overnutrition on offspring health, followed by the proposed mechanisms, with a focus on sperm DNA damage underpinning paternal programming. We also summarize the different intervention strategies implemented to minimize effects of paternal obesity. Upon critical review of literature, we find that obesity-induced altered sperm quality in father is linked with compromised offspring health. Paternal exercise intervention before conception has been shown to improve metabolic health. Further work to explore the mechanisms underlying benefits of paternal exercise on offspring are warranted. Conversion to healthy diets and micronutrient supplementation during pre-conception have shown some positive impacts towards minimizing the impact of paternal obesity on offspring. Pharmacological approaches e.g., metformin are also being applied. Thus, interventions in the obese father may ameliorate the potential detrimental impacts of paternal obesity on offspring.

Taurine as a Natural Antioxidant: From Direct Antioxidant Effects to Protective Action in Various Toxicological Models

Natural antioxidants have received tremendous attention over the last 3 decades. At the same time, the attitude to free radicals is slowly changing, and their signalling role in adaptation to stress has recently received a lot of attention. Among many different antioxidants in the body, taurine (Tau), a sulphur-containing non-proteinogenic β-amino acid, is shown to have a special place as an important natural modulator of the antioxidant defence networks. Indeed, Tau is synthesised in most mammals and birds, and the Tau requirement is met by both synthesis and food/feed supply. From the analysis of recent data, it could be concluded that the direct antioxidant effect of Tau due to scavenging free radicals is limited and could be expected only in a few mammalian/avian tissues (e.g., heart and eye) with comparatively high (>15-20 mM) Tau concentrations. The stabilising effects of Tau on mitochondria, a prime site of free radical formation, are characterised and deserve more attention. Tau deficiency has been shown to compromise the electron transport chain in mitochondria and significantly increase free radical production. It seems likely that by maintaining the optimal Tau status of mitochondria, it is possible to control free radical production. Tau's antioxidant protective action is of great importance in various stress conditions in human life, and is related to commercial animal and poultry production. In various in vitro and in vivo toxicological models, Tau showed AO protective effects. The membrane-stabilizing effects, inhibiting effects on ROS-producing enzymes, as well as the indirect AO effects of Tau via redox balance maintenance associated with the modulation of various transcription factors (e.g., Nrf2 and NF-κB) and vitagenes could also contribute to its protective action in stress conditions, and thus deserve more attention.

Discovery of ciliary G protein-coupled receptors regulating pancreatic islet insulin and glucagon secretion

Multiple G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are expressed in pancreatic islet cells, but the majority have unknown functions. We observed specific GPCRs localized to primary cilia, a prominent signaling organelle, in pancreatic α and β cells. Loss of cilia disrupts β-cell endocrine function, but the molecular drivers are unknown. Using functional expression, we identified multiple GPCRs localized to cilia in mouse and human islet α and β cells, including FFAR4, PTGER4, ADRB2, KISS1R, and P2RY14. Free fatty acid receptor 4 (FFAR4) and prostaglandin E receptor 4 (PTGER4) agonists stimulate ciliary cAMP signaling and promote glucagon and insulin secretion by α- and β-cell lines and by mouse and human islets. Transport of GPCRs to primary cilia requires TULP3, whose knockdown in primary human and mouse islets relocalized ciliary FFAR4 and PTGER4 and impaired regulated glucagon or insulin secretion, without affecting ciliary structure. Our findings provide index evidence that regulated hormone secretion by islet α and β cells is controlled by ciliary GPCRs providing new targets for diabetes.

Taurine Reprograms Mammary-Gland Metabolism and Alleviates Inflammation Induced by Streptococcus uberis in Mice

Streptococcus uberis (S. uberis) is an important pathogen causing mastitis, which causes continuous inflammation and dysfunction of mammary glands and leads to enormous economic losses. Most research on infection continues to be microbial metabolism-centric, and many overlook the fact that pathogens require energy from host. Mouse is a common animal model for studying bovine mastitis. In this perspective, we uncover metabolic reprogramming during host immune responses is associated with infection-driven inflammation, particularly when caused by intracellular bacteria. Taurine, a metabolic regulator, has been shown to effectively ameliorate metabolic diseases. We evaluated the role of taurine in the metabolic regulation of S. uberis-induced mastitis. Metabolic profiling indicates that S. uberis exposure triggers inflammation and metabolic dysfunction of mammary glands and mammary epithelial cells (the main functional cells in mammary glands). Challenge with S. uberis upregulates glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation in MECs. Pretreatment with taurine restores metabolic homeostasis, reverses metabolic dysfunction by decrease of lipid, amino acid and especially energy disturbance in the infectious context, and alleviates excessive inflammatory responses. These outcomes depend on taurine-mediated activation of the AMPK–mTOR pathway, which inhibits the over activation of inflammatory responses and alleviates cellular damage. Thus, metabolic homeostasis is essential for reducing inflammation. Metabolic modulation can be used as a prophylactic strategy against mastitis.

Chronic Intake of Energy Drinks and Their Sugar Free Substitution Similarly Promotes Metabolic Syndrome

Energy drinks containing significant quantities of caffeine, taurine and sugar are increasingly consumed, particularly by adolescents and young adults. The putative effects of chronic ingestion of either standard energy drink, Mother^TM (ED), or its sugar-free formulation (sfED) on metabolic syndrome were determined in wild-type C57BL/6J mice, in comparison to a soft drink, Coca-Cola (SD), a Western-styled diet enriched in saturated fatty acids (SFA), and a combination of SFA + ED. Following 13 weeks of intervention, mice treated with ED were hyperglycaemic and hypertriglyceridaemic, indicating higher triglyceride glucose index, which was similar to the mice maintained on SD. Surprisingly, the mice maintained on sfED also showed signs of insulin resistance with hyperglycaemia, hypertriglyceridaemia, and greater triglyceride glucose index, comparable to the ED group mice. In addition, the ED mice had greater adiposity primarily due to the increase in white adipose tissue, although the body weight was comparable to the control mice receiving only water. The mice maintained on SFA diet exhibited significantly greater weight gain, body fat, cholesterol and insulin, whilst blood glucose and triglyceride concentrations remained comparable to the control mice. Collectively, these data suggest that the consumption of both standard and sugar-free forms of energy drinks induces metabolic syndrome, particularly insulin resistance.

Obesity-Dependent Adipokine Chemerin Suppresses Fatty Acid Oxidation to Confer Ferroptosis Resistance

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is characterized by accumulation of neutral lipids and adipogenic transdifferentiation. We assessed adipokine expression in ccRCC and found that tumor tissues and patient plasma exhibit obesity-dependent elevations of the adipokine chemerin. Attenuation of chemerin by several approaches led to significant reduction in lipid deposition and impairment of tumor cell growth in vitro and in vivo. A multi-omics approach revealed that chemerin suppresses fatty acid oxidation, preventing ferroptosis, and maintains fatty acid levels that activate hypoxia-inducible factor 2α expression. The lipid coenzyme Q and mitochondrial complex IV, whose biogeneses are lipid-dependent, were found to be decreased after chemerin inhibition, contributing to lipid reactive oxygen species production. Monoclonal antibody targeting chemerin led to reduced lipid storage and diminished tumor growth, demonstrating translational potential of chemerin inhibition. Collectively, the results suggest that obesity and tumor cells contribute to ccRCC through the expression of chemerin, which is indispensable in ccRCC biology. SIGNIFICANCE: Identification of a hypoxia-inducible factor-dependent adipokine that prevents fatty acid oxidation and causes escape from ferroptosis highlights a critical metabolic dependency unique in the clear cell subtype of kidney cancer. Targeting lipid metabolism via inhibition of a soluble factor is a promising pharmacologic approach to expand therapeutic strategies for patients with ccRCC.See related commentary by Reznik et al., p. 1879.This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 1861.

Possible prospects for using modern magnesium preparations for increasing stress resistance during COVID-19 pandemic

Introduction: The relevance of the issue of increasing stress resistance is due to a significant deterioration in the mental health of the population caused by the special conditions of the disease control and prevention during the COVID-19 pandemic. Recently, the decisive role in the severity of clinico-physiological manifestations of maladjustment to stress is assigned to magnesium ions.

The aim of the work was to study the magnesium importance in the body coping mechanisms under stress for the pathogenetic substantiation of the magnesium correction in an unfavorable situation of disease control and prevention during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Materials and methods: The theoretical basis of this scientific and analytical review was an analysis of modern Russian and foreign literature data posted on the electronic portals MEDLINE, PubMed-NCBI, Scientific Electronic Library eLIBRARY.RU, Google Academy, and CyberLeninka.

Results and discussion: It was shown that the total magnesium level in the body plays the indicator role of the body functional reserves. Acute and chronic stresses significantly increase the magnesium consumption and cause a decrease in its body content. Magnesium deficiency is one of the main pathogenetic mechanisms of reducing stress resistance and adaptive body reserves. Arising during the COVID-19 pandemic, increased nervous and emotional tension, the lack of emotional comfort and balance can lead to the onset or deterioration of magnesium deficiency, which manifests itself in mental burnout and depletion of adaptive capacities. The inability to synthesize magnesium in the body necessitates including foodstuffs high in magnesium in the population diet during this period. The appointment of magnesium preparations is pathogenetically justified with moderate and severe magnesium deficiency. This therapy should take into account the major concomitant diseases, severity of magnesium deficiency, and a patient’s age.

Conclusion: magnesium correction, carried out during the COVID-19 pandemic, will contribute to increasing stress resistance, preventing mental diseases and improving the population’s life quality.

The Influence of Taurine Supplementation on Serum and Tissular Fe, Zn and Cu Levels in Normal and Diet-Induced Insulin-Resistant Rats

Taurine (Tau) is a β-sulphonated amino acid postulated to improve glucose homeostasis in insulin resistance and diabetes. Changes in carbohydrate metabolism are accompanied by oxidative stress, which may disturb the mineral balance. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the effect of Tau supplementation on the levels of trace elements in rats fed either a standard (AIN-93M, 4% fat) diet or a modified high-fat diet (30% fat). For 8 weeks, male Wistar rats were fed these diets supplemented with 3% Tau. Taurine supplementation normalized increased serum insulin concentration and insulin resistance index; however, it did not improve serum CRP concentration in high-fat diet fed rats. The high-fat diet supplemented with Tau decreased the renal and splenic Zn levels, but the tissular Fe content did not change. The effect of Tau supplementation on the mineral balance to some extent depended on the fat content in the rats' diet. The high-fat diet supplemented with Tau decreased the rats' splenic Zn levels but increased their femur levels. In the group fed the standard diet, Tau reduced the rats' femur Zn level, whereas their splenic Zn level was comparable. Tau supplementation decreased the renal Cu level and serum ceruloplasmin concentration in the rats fed the standard diet, but this effect was not observed in the rats fed the high-fat diet. In conclusion, supplementary taurine failed to ameliorate disturbances in mineral homeostasis caused by high-fat diet feeding and led to tissular redistribution of Zn and Cu in the rat.

Analysis of the metabolic pathways affected by hot-humid or dry climate based on fecal metabolomics coupled with serum metabolic changes in broiler chickens

Air temperature and relative humidity (RH) are 2 important climatic elements that affect animal welfare and health. The prevailing hot and humid or dry climate is one of the major constraints for optimum poultry production, especially in the tropics and subtropical regions. Many studies have suggested that exposure to hot-humid or dry climate is associated with a high risk of metabolic imbalance; however, the underlying metabolic changes caused by low or high RH climate is not yet well understood. Therefore, we used a comprehensive ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry–based metabolic profiling of fecal samples to explore the effects of hot-humid and dry climate on metabolic pathways in broilers. A total of 180 twenty-eight-day-old Arbor Acres broilers were randomly allocated to 3 treatments, each containing 6 replicates of 10 birds per treatment, using a completely randomized design. Birds were reared at 35, 60, or 85% RH at 32°C (temperature increased by 3°C every 3 d from 20°C to 32°C within 15 d: 20°C, 23°C, 26°C, 29°C, 32°C) for 15 d. Results showed that significant changes in the levels of 36 metabolites were detected. Evidence of changes in gluconeogenesis associated to pyruvate metabolism, galactose metabolism, and ABC transporter was observed. In addition, hot-humid and dry stress also affected the protein translation process caused by aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis, which may be associated with protein synthesis and hormone secretion disorders. Furthermore, we observed significant changes in primary bile acid biosynthesis and taurine and hypotaurine metabolism, which indicated that fat synthesis was affected. We also observed significant changes in arginine and proline metabolism and histidine metabolism, which were associated with skin vasodilation and blood flow. These results provide biochemical insights into metabolic changes due to hot-humid or dry climate.

The effects of taurine supplementation on glycemic control and serum lipid profile in patients with type 2 diabetes: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Previous studies have suggested that taurine has hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects on experimental diabetic models. Therefore, this clinical trial was designed to explore the impacts of taurine supplementation on glycemic control and lipid profile in the patients with T2DM. This study was conducted on 45 patients with T2DM in Tabriz Sheikhor-raees Polyclinic and Imam-Reza Hospital Endocrine Center. Subjects were randomly divided into taurine and placebo groups. Accordingly, the taurine group (n = 23) received taurine 3000 mg/daily and the placebo group (n = 22) took crystalline microcellulose/daily for the duration of 8 weeks. At baseline and after the trial completion, fasting blood samples were obtained from the patients to assess the glycemic indicators and lipid profile. Independent t test, paired t test, Pearson's correlation, and analysis of covariance was used for analysis. At the end of the study, levels of FBS (p = 0.01), insulin (p = 0.01), HOMA-IR (p = 0.003), TC (p = 0.013), and LDL-C (p = 0.041) significantly decreased in the taurine group compared to the placebo group. In addition, there was no significant changes in HbA1c, triglyceride, HDL-C, anthropometric indicators or dietary intakes by passing 8 weeks from the intervention. In conclusion, the findings of the current study indicated that taurine supplementation (3000 mg/day) for 8 weeks could improve the glycemic indexes and lipid profiles including TC and LDL-C in the patients with T2DM.

Chloride transporters and channels in β-cell physiology: revisiting a 40-year-old model

It is accepted that insulin-secreting β-cells release insulin in response to glucose even in the absence of functional ATP-sensitive K+ (KATP)-channels, which play a central role in a 'consensus model' of secretion broadly accepted and widely reproduced in textbooks. A major shortcoming of this consensus model is that it ignores any and all anionic mechanisms, known for more than 40 years, to modulate β-cell electrical activity and therefore insulin secretion. It is now clear that, in addition to metabolically regulated KATP-channels, β-cells are equipped with volume-regulated anion (Cl-) channels (VRAC) responsive to glucose concentrations in the range known to promote electrical activity and insulin secretion. In this context, the electrogenic efflux of Cl- through VRAC and other Cl- channels known to be expressed in β-cells results in depolarization because of an outwardly directed Cl- gradient established, maintained and regulated by the balance between Cl- transporters and channels. This review will provide a succinct historical perspective on the development of a complex hypothesis: Cl- transporters and channels modulate insulin secretion in response to nutrients.

Taurine supplementation in high-fat diet fed male mice attenuates endocrine pancreatic dysfunction in their male offspring

Obesity in fathers leads to DNA damage and epigenetic changes in sperm that may carry potential risk factors for metabolic diseases to the next generation. Taurine (TAU) supplementation has demonstrated benefits against testicular dysfunction and pancreatic islet impairments induced by obesity, but it is not known if these protective actions prevent the propagation of metabolic disruptions to the next generation; as such, we hypothesized that paternal obesity may increase the probability of endocrine pancreatic dysfunction in offspring, and that this could be prevented by TAU supplementation in male progenitors. To test this, male C57Bl/6 mice were fed on a control diet (CTL) or a high-fat diet (HFD) without or with 5% TAU in their drinking water (CTAU and HTAU) for 4 months. Subsequently, all groups of mice were mated with CTL females, and the F1 offspring were identified as: CTL-F1, CTAU-F1, HFD-F1, and HTAU-F1. HFD-fed mice were normoglycemic, but glucose intolerant and their islets hypersecreted insulin. However, at 90 days of age, HFD-F1 offspring displayed normal glucose homeostasis and adiposity, but reduced glucose-induced insulin release. HFD-F1 islets also exhibited β- and α-cell hypotrophy, and lower δ-cell number per islet. Paternal TAU supplementation prevented the decrease in glucose-induced insulin secretion and normalized β-cell size and δ-cell number, and increased α-cell size/islet in HTAU-F1 mice. In conclusion, HFD consumption by male founders decreases β-cell secretion and islet-cell distribution in their offspring. TAU attenuates the deleterious effects of paternal obesity on insulin secretion and islet-cell morphology in F1 offspring.

Taurine Promotes Milk Synthesis via the GPR87-PI3K-SETD1A Signaling in BMECs

Taurine, a β-aminosulfonic acid, exerts many cellular physiological functions. It is still unknown whether taurine can regulate milk synthesis in the mammary gland. Therefore, in this study we investigated the effects and mechanism of taurine on milk synthesis in mammary epithelial cells (MECs). Bovine MECs (BMECs) cultured in FBS-free OPTI-MEMImedium were treated with taurine (0, 0.08, 0.16, 0.24, 0.32, and 0.4 mM). Taurine treatment led to increased milk protein and fat synthesis, mTOR phosphorylation, and SREBP-1c protein expression, in a dose-dependent manner, with an apparent maximum at 0.24 mM. Gene function study approaches revealed that the GPR87-PI3K-SETD1A signaling was required for taurine to increase the mTOR and SREBP-1c mRNA levels. Taurine stimulated GPR87 expression and cell membrane localization in a dose dependent manner, suggesting a sensing mechanism of GPR87 to extracellular taurine. Collectively, these data demonstrate that taurine promotes milk synthesis via the GPR87-PI3K-SETD1A signaling.