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Taurine Intake, Plasma Taurine Concentration, and Dementia Risk : Findings From the Malmö Diet and Cancer Study

Zhang, Naiqi LU orcid ; Borné, Yan LU ; Hagberg, Elisabeth ; Palmqvist, Sebastian LU orcid ; Glans, Isabelle LU ; Ottosson, Filip LU ; Samuelsson, Jessica LU ; Nägga, Katarina LU ; Hansson, Oskar LU orcid and Duarte, João M.N. LU orcid , et al. (2025) In Journal of Neurochemistry 169(11). p.1-13
Abstract

Preclinical studies suggest that taurine may exert neuroprotective effects. However, its relevance to dementia risk in human populations remains unclear. We investigated the associations between mid-life dietary taurine intake, circulating taurine concentrations, and the risk of late-life all-cause dementia, Alzheimer's disease (AD), and vascular dementia (VaD) in a large prospective cohort. This study utilized data from 27 786 participants of the Malmö Diet and Cancer Study with baseline examination from 1991 to 1996. Dietary taurine intake was estimated from a detailed diet history and adjusted for energy intake. Plasma taurine concentration was measured in a subset of 3693 individuals. Dementia diagnoses were ascertained through the... (More)

Preclinical studies suggest that taurine may exert neuroprotective effects. However, its relevance to dementia risk in human populations remains unclear. We investigated the associations between mid-life dietary taurine intake, circulating taurine concentrations, and the risk of late-life all-cause dementia, Alzheimer's disease (AD), and vascular dementia (VaD) in a large prospective cohort. This study utilized data from 27 786 participants of the Malmö Diet and Cancer Study with baseline examination from 1991 to 1996. Dietary taurine intake was estimated from a detailed diet history and adjusted for energy intake. Plasma taurine concentration was measured in a subset of 3693 individuals. Dementia diagnoses were ascertained through the Swedish National Patient Register and validated by memory clinic physicians. Cox proportional hazards models assessed associations with dementia risk, adjusting for potential confounders including APOE ε4 status, lifestyle factors, and comorbidities. Over a median 25-year follow-up, 3224 participants developed dementia. No significant associations were found between dietary taurine intake or plasma taurine concentrations and the risk of all-cause dementia, AD, or VaD. Circulating taurine concentrations were only weakly correlated with dietary intake, suggesting a predominant role of endogenous taurine synthesis and metabolism. Our findings fail to support a protective role for taurine intake against dementia in humans. Further studies are warranted to examine potential effects under specific pathological conditions or with high-dose supplementation. (Figure presented.).

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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Alzheimer's disease, cognition, diet, neurodegeneration, nutrition
in
Journal of Neurochemistry
volume
169
issue
11
article number
e70298
pages
1 - 13
publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
external identifiers
  • scopus:105022102983
  • pmid:41250277
ISSN
0022-3042
DOI
10.1111/jnc.70298
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
Publisher Copyright: © 2025 The Author(s). Journal of Neurochemistry published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Society for Neurochemistry.
id
153225d0-e56e-422b-9447-e0e83470138e
date added to LUP
2025-11-25 13:08:11
date last changed
2025-12-09 14:30:12
@article{153225d0-e56e-422b-9447-e0e83470138e,
  abstract     = {{<p>Preclinical studies suggest that taurine may exert neuroprotective effects. However, its relevance to dementia risk in human populations remains unclear. We investigated the associations between mid-life dietary taurine intake, circulating taurine concentrations, and the risk of late-life all-cause dementia, Alzheimer's disease (AD), and vascular dementia (VaD) in a large prospective cohort. This study utilized data from 27 786 participants of the Malmö Diet and Cancer Study with baseline examination from 1991 to 1996. Dietary taurine intake was estimated from a detailed diet history and adjusted for energy intake. Plasma taurine concentration was measured in a subset of 3693 individuals. Dementia diagnoses were ascertained through the Swedish National Patient Register and validated by memory clinic physicians. Cox proportional hazards models assessed associations with dementia risk, adjusting for potential confounders including APOE ε4 status, lifestyle factors, and comorbidities. Over a median 25-year follow-up, 3224 participants developed dementia. No significant associations were found between dietary taurine intake or plasma taurine concentrations and the risk of all-cause dementia, AD, or VaD. Circulating taurine concentrations were only weakly correlated with dietary intake, suggesting a predominant role of endogenous taurine synthesis and metabolism. Our findings fail to support a protective role for taurine intake against dementia in humans. Further studies are warranted to examine potential effects under specific pathological conditions or with high-dose supplementation. (Figure presented.).</p>}},
  author       = {{Zhang, Naiqi and Borné, Yan and Hagberg, Elisabeth and Palmqvist, Sebastian and Glans, Isabelle and Ottosson, Filip and Samuelsson, Jessica and Nägga, Katarina and Hansson, Oskar and Duarte, João M.N. and Sonestedt, Emily}},
  issn         = {{0022-3042}},
  keywords     = {{Alzheimer's disease; cognition; diet; neurodegeneration; nutrition}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{11}},
  pages        = {{1--13}},
  publisher    = {{Wiley-Blackwell}},
  series       = {{Journal of Neurochemistry}},
  title        = {{Taurine Intake, Plasma Taurine Concentration, and Dementia Risk : Findings From the Malmö Diet and Cancer Study}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jnc.70298}},
  doi          = {{10.1111/jnc.70298}},
  volume       = {{169}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}