Oral taurine improves critical power and severe-intensity exercise tolerance

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of acute oral taurine ingestion on: (1) the power–time relationship using the 3-min all-out test (3MAOT); (2) time to exhaustion (TTE) 5%\u2009>\u2009critical power (CP) and (3) the estimated time to complete (Tlim) a range of fixed target intensities. Twelve males completed a baseline 3MAOT test on a cycle ergometer. Following this, a double-blind, randomised cross-over design was followed, where participants were allocated to one of four conditions, separated by 72 h: TTE\u2009+\u2009taurine; TTE\u2009+\u2009placebo; 3MAOT\u2009+\u2009taurine; 3MAOT\u2009+\u2009placebo. Taurine was provided at 50 mg kg−1, whilst the placebo was 3 mg kg−1 maltodextrin. CP was higher (P\u2009<\u20090.05) in taurine (212\u2009±\u200936 W) than baseline (197\u2009±\u200940 W) and placebo (193\u2009±\u200935 W). Work end power was not affected by supplement (P\u2009>\u20090.05), yet TTE 5%\u2009>\u2009CP increased (P\u2009<\u20090.05) by 1.7 min after taurine (17.7 min) compared to placebo (16.0 min) and there were higher (P\u2009<\u20090.001) estimated Tlim across all work targets. Acute supplementation of 50 mg kg−1 of taurine improved CP and estimated performance at a range of severe work intensities. Oral taurine can be taken prior to exercise to enhance endurance performance.