Taurine and Nitrate Supplementation on Thermoregulatory in T2DM

Anthropogenic warming is increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme heat events. Elevated temperatures raise the risk of mortality and hospital admissions, particularly among people with chronic illnesses such as type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Globally, around 530 million people live with T2DM , and in the United Kingdom nearly six million are affected, creating a substantial population vulnerable to heat related illness.

People with T2DM are at heightened risk of cardiovascular disease, which can impair cardiac output, a key component of thermoregulation, as it supports increased skin blood flow for heat dissipation. T2DM also attenuates eccrine sweat gland function, peripheral vasodilation, reducing evaporative cooling capacity. These physiological constraints highlight the need for effective strategies to improve heat tolerance in this group.

Recent evidence shows that exogenous taurine supplementation can enhance sweating in healthy individuals, potentially improving heat loss. This study will examine whether acute taurine supplementation, alone or combined with beetroot, can limit rises in core temperature in people with T2DM during an acute extreme heat exposure.