Lifestyle Sports

By Marion Nestle

April 13 2026

Industry-funded study of the week: Taurine supplements

I was interested to run across this article announcement:

Nestlé researchers find Taurine-B vitamin blend may support motivation: A study in healthy adults found that daily supplementation had a positive impact on motivation, attention, mental energy and effort toward achieving goals after 14 days of intake…. Read more

It immediately raised the question: Why would Nestlé researchers do this study?

I went right to the source.

The study: A nutritional blend of taurine, vitamins B6, B9, and B12 improves motivated behaviors in healthy adults—a double-blinded randomized clinical trial. Front. Nutr. 13:1711478. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2026.1711478

Methods: …we identified candidate nutrients found in foods that could enhance brain GSH [glutathione] production as a possible approach to sustain motivated behaviors….we discovered that taurine was able to efficiently increase GSH production…but only when levels of vitamin B9 were adequate. The above led us to test a blend of taurine, vitamin B6, B9, and B12 in humans, in a randomized, double-blind, 2-arm, cross-over study with 44 participants aged 25–40 years old.

Results: Results showed significant improvements after 14 days supplementation in the first period, as well as after 28 days in the second administration period, compared to placebo.

Discussion: Overall, these findings demonstrate how targeted nutritional supplementation can sustain brain health and modulate behaviors, such as motivated and goal-oriented performance.

Funding: The study was sponsored by Société des Produits Nestlé SA.

Conflict of interest: 5 of 7 authors are employed by Société des Produits Nestlé SA. This study received funding from Société des Produits Nestlé SA. The funder was involved in the study design, analysis, interpretation of data, the writing of this article or the decision to submit it for publication.

Comment: This is Nestlé research conducted by Nestlé employees. The company sells nutraceutical products, including supplements. This research seems aimed at providing a seemingly rational basis for marketing a taurine/B vitamin supplement to improve motivational behavior.

The post Industry-funded study of the week: Taurine supplements appeared first on Food Politics by Marion Nestle

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