Does Taurine Cause Cancer?

Taurine is an amino acid that is found in the body which is crucial for normal immune and nervous system function. While the body typically makes enough taurine naturally, most people also obtain taurine from their diet.

Taurine is typically found in high protein foods such as meat, seafood and dairy products. Taurine is also present in high amounts in energy drinks. A daily intake of 3,000 – 10,000 mg of taurine per day is considered safe for humans.

Taurine supplements are also taken, typically by athletes, to boost athletic performance and to support cardiovascular health. These supplements usually come in tablets or capsules and are taken in doses of 1 – 6 g a day.

While taurine has not been heavily studied for its health benefits, research has shown that it may support heart health and help with hypertension. It is also important in supporting the body’s immune function as an antioxidant, boosting immune function and reducing inflammation. Taurine has also been suggested to be useful in treating anemia and type 1 diabetes.

A study published in 2025 suggested that taurine may have an important role in fuelling the progression of leukemia. Leukemia is a group of cancers that originate from the bone marrow, from the white blood cells in the body.

In the study, researchers found that leukemia cells in mice used taurine to fuel their growth. They discovered that the leukemia cells take up taurine, promoting glycolysis. Glycolysis is a process involving the breakdown of glucose to produce energy. This energy is subsequently used to fuel the growth of the cancer cells.

However, experts have emphasized that the study was conducted on mice and the findings are not directly translatable to humans at this point. Vijay Yadav, an associate professor in the Department of Pathology, Immunology, and Laboratory Medicine at Rutgers University in New Jersey said, “We need to wait until we have data in humans to draw firm conclusions about what, if anything, the results mean for the general public.”

Prior to this, previous studies have suggested that taurine supplementation could be useful in enhancing the effects of certain cancer treatments. For instance, one study has suggested that taurine supplementation could help to alleviate some of the toxic side effects of chemotherapy due to its antioxidant capabilities.

“As taurine is a common ingredient in energy drinks and is often provided as a supplement to mitigate the side-effects of chemotherapy, our work suggests that it may be of interest to carefully consider the benefits of supplemental taurine in patients with leukemia," the researchers noted.

While the findings suggested that taurine may play a role in cancer development, it does not suggest that taurine causes cancer in humans. It is important for more research to be conducted to have a better understanding of taurine and its impact on human health and cancer.