A recent study has shed light on the potential risks associated with a common ingredient found in many popular energy drinks. Researchers in the United States have discovered that taurine, an amino acid frequently used in energy drinks such as Red Bull and Celsius, could potentially increase the risk of blood cancers. This amino acid, which is often added to these beverages to boost metabolism, can serve as a fuel source for leukemia cancer cells that originate in the bone marrow.
The authors of the study have urged consumers to be cautious when consuming drinks that contain taurine, which are readily available in supermarkets globally. The study, published in Nature, suggests that the potential risks and benefits of supplemental taurine should be carefully considered, particularly for leukemia patients.
While the body naturally produces taurine and has been used to mitigate the side effects of chemotherapy in leukemia patients, researchers at the University of Rochester in New York have raised concerns that additional intake could potentially exacerbate the blood cancer. The study underscores the need for a thorough evaluation of the risks and benefits of extra taurine for leukemia patients, as well as for those who regularly consume energy drinks.
Despite the study still being in its early stages, the researchers are hopeful that targeting taurine production in leukemia cells could offer a new treatment approach for these aggressive diseases. Their experiments on mice and human leukemia cells have shown that blocking taurine from entering cells could slow the progression of the disease.
The study is part of a larger research effort investigating taurine’s potential role in fueling other types of cancer, such as colorectal cancer. Taurine, which naturally occurs in protein-rich foods like meat and fish, is often used in energy drinks because it aids digestion, maintains proper hydration and electrolyte balances, and supports the overall function of the central nervous system.
The researchers studied mice with the SLC6A6 gene, which is responsible for transporting taurine throughout the body. They also transplanted human leukemia cells into these mice and found that a specific group of healthy bone marrow cells produces taurine, the environment where leukemia develops. The SLC6A6 gene then transports this taurine from the bone marrow to the leukemia cells.
As the cancer cells consume taurine, they undergo a process known as glycolysis, where cells break down glucose to produce energy. This process provides the energy cancer cells need to divide and multiply, potentially making leukemia more aggressive by increasing the number of cancer cells.
According to Cancer Australia, there were 5,202 new cases of leukemia diagnosed in Australia in 2022, with approximately 2,121 people dying from the disease in the same year. Currently, around 135,000 people in Australia are living with blood cancer or a related blood disorder.