Acute taurine supplementation enhances thermoregulation and endurance cycling performance in the heat

This study investigated the effects of oral taurine supplementation on cycling time to exhaustion at a fixed-intensity and thermoregulation in the heat. In a double-blind, randomised crossover design, 11 healthy males participated in a time to exhaustion test in the heat (35 °C, 40% RH), cycling at the power output associated with ventilatory threshold, 2-h after ingesting: Taurine (50 mg·kg-1) or placebo (3 mg·kg-1 maltodextrin). Core and mean skin temperature, mean sweat rate, heart rate, rating of perceived exertion (RPE), thermal comfort and thermal sensation were measured during exercise and blood lactate concentration (B[La]) was measured after exercise. Taurine supplementation increased time to exhaustion by 10% (25.16 min vs. 22.43 min, p = 0.040), end sweat rate by 12.7% (687 nL∙min-1 vs. 600 nL∙min-1, p = 0.034) and decreased B[La] by 16.5% (5.75 mmol∙L-1 vs. 6.85 mmol∙L-1, p = 0.033). Core temperature was lower in the final 10% of the time to exhaustion (38.5 °C vs. 38.1 °C, p = 0.049). Taurine supplementation increased time to exhaustion and local sweating, while decreasing RPE and core temperature in the later stages of exercise, as well as reducing post-exercise B[La]. This study provides evidence of taurine’s role in thermoregulatory processes. These findings have implications for the short-term preparation strategies of individuals exercising in the heat. Based on these findings, a single dose of taurine 2-h prior to training or competition would provide an ergogenic and thermoregulatory effect.