A widely used ingredient in energy drinks may be doing more harm than expected, according to new research from the University of Rochester Medical Center (UR Medicine). Scientists have found that taurine, a naturally occurring amino acid often added to energy drinks and found in foods like fish and meat, could help leukemia cells grow faster.
The study, published in Nature, revealed that leukemia cells can absorb taurine from surrounding bone marrow and use it to fuel their growth. Researchers say this process gives cancer cells a boost—similar to the burst of energy people get after consuming an energy drink.
In lab tests using mice, scientists blocked the leukemia cells’ access to taurine. They observed that this significantly slowed cancer growth, suggesting that cutting off taurine could be a potential strategy in treating leukemia.
“Local levels of taurine in bone marrow may enhance leukemia growth,” said Dr. Jane Liesveld, an oncologist at UR Medicine. “This raises concerns about using high doses of taurine supplements.”
The research team cautions that it is still early to draw firm conclusions. While taurine from energy drinks and supplements may contribute to cancer growth, more studies are needed to understand how taurine behaves in the human body and whether outside sources of it can worsen leukemia.
Interestingly, taurine is not always harmful. Previous studies have shown it may help the immune system and even aid in fighting off certain cancers, such as stomach cancer. This highlights the complex role taurine plays in the body, depending on the type of cancer.
Understanding how cancer cells use energy and nutrients is becoming a key part of cancer research. While genetic mutations are known to drive cancer, scientists are now discovering how cancer cells hijack normal metabolic processes to survive and grow.
“Metabolic reprogramming is a hallmark of cancer,” said Dr. Liesveld. “We are just beginning to understand how leukemia cells use these pathways to their advantage.”
Energy drinks have long been known to give a short-term energy boost, but their health risks continue to be debated. Studies have linked them to heart problems and memory issues. Now, there is a possibility that they could also affect cancer growth—though sugar and caffeine are still considered the bigger concerns.
The more significant takeaway from the study, researchers say, is the idea that cancer cells could be weakened by cutting off their “fuel supply.” Myeloid cancers like leukemia affect blood cells and are often aggressive and hard to treat. Slowing their growth could help improve patient outcomes.
“We’re excited by these findings,” said Dr. Jeevisha Bajaj, a stem cell and cancer biologist at UR Medicine. “They suggest that blocking taurine uptake in leukemia cells may offer a new path for treatment.”
The researchers now hope to develop effective ways to stop taurine from entering leukemia cells as they continue their work.
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