Taurine supplementation extends exercise time to exhaustion. It is thought that the level of blood glucose is an important factor related to the fatigue induced by prolonged exercise. However, the mechanism for this effect has been unclear. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of taurine supplementation on blood glucose level during prolonged exercise and on hepatic gluconeogenesis.   Male, eight-week old Fischer 344 rats were randomly divided into two groups, non- supplement controlled group (Con) and taurine-supplemented group (Tau). Each group received non-supplemented water and 3% taurine solution in water for 3 weeks, respectively. In Experiment 1, each group was forced to perform transient treadmill running at 21.7 m/min until exhaustion, using a blind method. Two days before the running, all rats were catheterized via the right jugular vein. During the endurance running, blood samples were extracted from the jugular vein and blood glucose levels were measured every 10 minutes. In Experiment 2, hepatic glycogen, glucogenic amino acids, G6Pase activity and blood glucose were measured before and after 120min-running.   In Experiment 1, the taurine concentration in the liver was significantly greater in Tau compared to that in Con after 3 weeks of taurine supplementation. The duration of running to exhaustion was also significantly greater in Tau than that in Con. Blood glucose levels of Tau was significantly higher than that of Con during exercise. In Experiment 2, three weeks of taurine supplementation significantly decreased glucogenic amino acids and significantly increased G6Pase activity in the liver.   The results suggest that taurine supplementation increases taurine concentration in the liver, and suppresses hypoglycemia accompanied with increase of running time to exhaustion in rats. It is also speculated that pre status of hepatic gluconeogenesis can be prepared via activation of rate-limiting enzyme of gluconeogenesis.

Taurine supplementation inhibits hypoglycemia during prolonged exercise and extends exercise time to exhaustion in rats

248th National Meeting (2014)

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