Taurine in Energy Drinks: Risk factor of Leukemia

Today, youth are just obsessed with energy drinks. In research, it was estimated that approximately 570 million liters of energy drinks were consumed in 2023. The number is 30 times greater than compared to 2018. Some say it gives not only body strength but also mental focus. But what if these drinks will cause of causing a disorder from which you can't recover. Yes, Wilmot Cancer Institute researchers at the University of Rochester in New York discovered a chemical in these energy drinks that may be a risk factor for leukemia. Taurine has been discovered to be a risk factor in energy drinks. Let's know more about this research.

What is Taurine?

Taurine is a non-essential amino acid that is naturally found in some body parts. They may include bone, heart, bone marrow, muscles, large intestine, and brain. Bile juice is major source of Taurine. It is synthesized within the human body by various metabolic pathways.
Protein-rich foods like fish and pork are complete sources of Taurine. Because it helps with digestion, hydration, electrolyte balance, and central nervous system function, it is also frequently added to energy drinks. Taurine is included in energy drinks, which enables bacteria that create hydrogen sulfide to use it as an energy source. It also helps the nervous and immunological systems function properly.
Taurine has important roles in both the brain and the heart. It increases nerve growth. Because it soothes the nervous system and decreases blood pressure, it may lower the risk of heart failure.

What is Leukemia?

Leukemia is a form of blood cancer that starts in the bone marrow and causes abnormal proliferation of white blood cells. WBCs are the specific type of blood cell that helps the body fight off many different kinds of diseases. Any bone marrow cell abnormalities can lead to leukemia.

Various types of leukemia are listed below:

• Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia: It is the most common type of blood cancer that mostly affects children. Some incidences of this condition can affect adults. This condition is caused by an abnormal synthesis of white blood cells, or leukocytes, by the bone marrow.

• Acute Myelogenous Leukemia: It typically affects people aged 40 to 60. This condition affects men more than women. Acute Myelogenous Leukemia develops when the bone marrow produces immature white blood cells in an uncontrolled manner.

• Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: People over the age of 55 are more likely to have this condition. This disease is infrequently found in children and young adults. Gender is considered a risk factor since males are more likely to develop this blood malignancy. This malignancy progresses over time as aberrant WBCs are created.
• Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia: This type of malignancy is detected in its advanced stages. This condition develops gradually, thus there are no noticeable signs in the early stages. This condition predominantly affects the elderly.

What does the research say about it?

During the research, scientists uses special gene mice and inserted human leukaemia cells in them to observe exact reaction. The gene controls taurine movement in the mouse body. Typically, taurine is produced by functioning bone marrow cells. Then, the gene delivers it to leukocytes cells, promoting their development.

It has been observed that mice develop leukemia after Taurine is inserted in them.

Science says that if the Taurine is naturally produced in the body, blood cells uses them for their energy used during its production. If there is excessive intake of taurine, WBCs absorbs it and may leads to leukemia (Abnormal growth of blood cell). Originally, research claimed that taurine causes leukemogenesis (the growth of leukemia cells). However, excessive growth may result in cancer.
Leukocyte cells (WBCs) use taurine to obtain energy via the glycolysis process. It is the process by which cells break down glucose to produce energy, which cancer cells subsequently use to grow. Taurine fuels glycolysis in leukemia cells.

Conclusion

Blood cancer is one of the most fatal carcinomas worldwide. So, research today is focusing on its early diagnosis and causes. It is one of the closest steps towards it. To overcome blood cancer, early detection and therapy are essential. Diagnosis depends on symptoms, history, and screening. But treatment will be on us. We, Magicine Pharma, will take care of your better anticancer medicines. We are an online pharmacy brand, well known for supplying anticancer and other life-saving medicines worldwide. Peg L-Aspara 3750 IU Injection and Lidmed 10mg Capsule are anticancer drugs used for the treatment of leukemia. You can get this medicine from us at a low price with the original brand. Just visit the website and make your required purchase.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Which cancer is caused by Taurine?
A. Taurine is supposed to be responsible for causing leukemia (A type of cancer that occurs in WBCs).
Q. What are the diagnostic methods for Leukemia?
A. To detect leukemia, the doctor prescribes bone marrow biopsy, CBC, KFT & LFT, flow cytometry, and cytochemistry.
Q. Is it possible to treat blood cancer completely?
A. Yes, blood cancer is treatable. Chronic blood cancer is not curable. Various therapies can help relieve the symptoms.
Q. What is the survival rate for people who are diagnosed with Blood Cancer?
A. The survival rate varies with the type of blood cancer. Leukemia patients have an average survival time of 5 years.

Reference:
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4682602/
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-09018-7​