To determine the effect of taurine on blood glucose concentration during prolonged exercise, fifteen male university students cycled for 120 min at 50%VO2max after 7 days with or without taurine supplementation. Exercise tended to reduce the blood glucose concentration, whereas taurine significantly prevented this decline. Exercise significantly increased plasma glucagon concentrations in both groups to a similar degree. Serum insulin concentrations did not differ during exercise under both conditions. Taurine supplementation respectively significantly inhibited and tended to inhibit the plasma noradrenaline and adrenaline concentrations increased by exercise. These results suggest that taurine supplementation can maintain the blood glucose concentration during prolonged exercise through enhanced catecholamine sensitivity.
