By Jimmy Downs

Monday Nov 12, 2012 (foodconsumer.org) -- A new study in Experimental and Molecular Medicine suggests that taking taurine supplements may help patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus better manage their serum glucose and cholesterol.

K.S. Kim and colleagues tested a diet supplemented with 2% taurine against a control diet in rats with chronic diabetes for 12 weeks to see how taurine, a type of amino acid, may affect glucose metabolism, lipid metabolism and diabetic complications in the animals.

Taurine was found to reduce plasma glucose levels over 12 weeks and improved outcomes at six weeks after taurine supplementation in the study rats. 

Taurine significantly improved insulin resistance, lowered serum levels o lipids including triglycerides, cholesterol, both high density lipoprotein cholesterol and low density lipoprotein cholesterol although taurinedid not improve  β-cell function (HOMA-β) or islet mass, Kim et al. found.  

Taurine was also found to significantly reduce the serum levels of leptin, but not adiponectin.

The researchers explained that taurine eased hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia, at least partially by improving insulin sensitivity and leptin modulation in rats with chronic diabetes. 

More research is needed to confirm if taurine may have the same or similar effects in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, the researchers said.