Tyrosine is an amino acid found in protein-rich foods such as meat, fish, and dairy products.
The substance is also sold as a dietary supplement and is often associated with improved mental performance.
In the journal Aging, researchers examined whether tyrosine and another amino acid, phenylalanine, have an impact on how long people live.
The study was conducted by researchers from the University of Hong Kong and the University of Georgia, motivated by a desire to understand how diet and biology may influence aging.
Also read: She took collagen daily for a year – see her before-and-after photos
What did the data show?
The researchers analyzed data from more than 270,000 individuals in the British health database UK Biobank.
They used both health records and genetic analyses to investigate a possible link between amino acids in the blood and mortality.
According to the study, higher levels of tyrosine were associated with a shorter lifespan in men. The average difference indicated by the models was just under one year.
The same association was not found in women. At the same time, phenylalanine showed no independent effect when tyrosine was taken into account.
Also read: Three foods to reconsider on GLP-1 treatment
What does this mean?
The researchers emphasize that the study does not directly concern dietary supplements, but rather the level of tyrosine in the blood.
Therefore, it cannot be concluded that supplements themselves shorten lifespan.
Tyrosine plays a role in the body’s production of neurotransmitters in the brain and may also be linked to metabolic and hormonal processes.
According to the researchers, biological differences between men and women may be part of the explanation.
Also read: Study finds shoe choice may affect osteoarthritis differently
The study highlights the need for further research into how diet and sex influence healthy aging.
Sources: Science Daily, and Aging.
Also read: How your body is affected if you get most of your calories from beverages