Taurine Last updated: Nov 19, 2009

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Taurine is a non-essential amino acid. Useful to people who suffer from atherosclerosis, heart disorders, edema, hypertension, and hypoglycemia. Important to the heart muscle, white blood cells, musculo-skeletal system, and central nervous system. It has been used in the treatment of breast cancer, anxiety, poor brain function, epilepsy, and Down syndrome children.

Taurine tends to be well absorbed and tissue levels can go up rapidly after oral administration. Individuals seeking to boost their taurine intake can choose from all types of fish, including fatty fish, mild fish, white fish and/or taurine supplements.

An Australian study discovered taurine to be one of the key properties in fish that protect against cardiovascular disease [Asia Pac J Clin Nutr 2001;10(2): pp.134-7]

 
 

Taurine can help with the following:
 
 
Addictions  Current Smoker
 While the use of taurine will not help a person quit smoking, it can help reverse the damage done by continued smoking. A study looked at 15 healthy smokers and 15 healthy non-smokers. Initially, the smokers' blood vessel diameter was smaller than non-smokers'. After taking 1.5gm of taurine per day for five days, the smokers' blood vessel diameter increased, equaling that of non-smokers. [Circulation January 7, 2003]

Circulation
  Congestive Heart Failure
 Researchers at the University of South Alabama found that congestive heart failure responds favorably to taurine therapy. [Amino Acids 2000; 18(4): pp.305-18]

  Arrhythmias/Dysrhythmias
 Taurine has been found to be particularly concentrated in the heart with its levels exceeding the combined total of all other amino acids. During active stress the levels of taurine go up in the heart. Levels go down after an MI or ischemic attack. In Japan, taurine is used to treat various types of heart disease. Some arrhythmias may require IV administration.

  Increased Risk of Stroke
 Taurine reduces platelet aggregation, which is how most natural products work in stroke prevention.

Lab Values
  Low Total Cholesterol
 Taurine and beet concentrate are very effective at thinning the bile in the gallbladder.

  Elevated Total Cholesterol
 Taurine conjugation of bile acids has a significant effect on the solubility of cholesterol, increasing its excretion, and administration of taurine has been shown to reduce serum cholesterol levels in human subjects.

In a single-blind, placebo-controlled study, 22 healthy male volunteers, aged 18-29 years, were randomly placed in one of two groups and fed a high fat/high cholesterol diet, designed to raise serum cholesterol levels, for three weeks. The experimental group received 6 grams of taurine daily. At the end of the test period, the control group had significantly higher total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol levels than the group receiving taurine. [Adv Exp Med Biol 1996;403:615-622]

Nervous System
  Seizure Disorder
 Taurine is an inhibitory neurotransmitter, its main use being to help treat epilepsy and other excitable brain states. Research shows low taurine levels at seizure sites and its anti-convulsant effect comes from its ability to stabilize nerve cell membranes, which in turn prevents the erratic firing of nerve cells. Taurine functions as a mild sedative; doses for this effect are 500mg three times daily.

Organ Health
  Diabetes Type II
 It has been postulated that the equilibrium between the amino acid taurine and inositol gets disturbed by the increasing sorbitol levels caused by hyperglycemia. This means that taurine supplementation is as least as important as inositol supplementation. It required 1.5g/day of supplemental taurine for IDDM subjects to reach the serum taurine levels of non-diabetic control subjects. [Am J Clin Nutr, 1995: 61 (5): pp.1115-19]

Taurine deficiency is also implicated in the development of diabetic cardiomyopathy. Studies have shown that some animals fed a taurine deficient diet develop a reversible cardiomyopathy. Whereas humans might not be quite that lucky, taurine certainly helps those of them with it. [Jpn Circ J, 1992: 56 (1): pp.95-9]

Risks
  Increased Risk of Coronary Disease / Heart Attack
 See the link between Heart Attack Risk and Fish consumption.
 
 


KEY
May do some good
Likely to help
 
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GLOSSARY

Amino Acid:  An organic acid containing nitrogen chemical building blocks that aid in the production of protein in the body. Eight of the twenty-two known amino acids are considered "essential," and must be obtained from dietary sources because the body can not synthesize them.

Anxiety:  Apprehension of danger, or dread, accompanied by nervous restlessness, tension, increased heart rate, and shortness of breath unrelated to a clearly identifiable stimulus.

Atherosclerosis:  Common form of arteriosclerosis associated with the formation of atheromas which are deposits of yellow plaques containing cholesterol, lipids, and lipophages within the intima and inner media of arteries. This results in a narrowing of the arteries, which reduces the blood and oxygen flow to the heart and brain as well as to other parts of the body and can lead to a heart attack, stroke, or loss of function or gangrene of other tissues.

Cancer:  Refers to the various types of malignant neoplasms that contain cells growing out of control and invading adjacent tissues, which may metastasize to distant tissues.

Cardiovascular:  Pertaining to the heart and blood vessels.

Edema:  Abnormal accumulation of fluids within tissues resulting in swelling.

Epilepsy:  Chronic brain disorder associated with some seizures and, typically, alteration of consciousness.

Hypertension:  High blood pressure. Hypertension increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, and kidney failure because it adds to the workload of the heart, causing it to enlarge and, over time, to weaken; in addition, it may damage the walls of the arteries.

Hypoglycemia:  A condition characterized by an abnormally low blood glucose level. Severe hypoglycemia is rare and dangerous. It can be caused by medications such as insulin (diabetics are prone to hypoglycemia), severe physical exhaustion, and some illnesses.

Nervous System:  A system in the body that is comprised of the brain, spinal cord, nerves, ganglia and parts of the receptor organs that receive and interpret stimuli and transmit impulses to effector organs.

Taurine:  A nonessential amino acid but may be essential for individuals with certain diseases or nutritional concerns. May be needed for the proper development and maintenance of the central nervous system. Taurine's role in bile formation is important for fat metabolism and blood cholesterol control.

White Blood Cell:  (WBC): A blood cell that does not contain hemoglobin: a blood corpuscle responsible for maintaining the body's immune surveillance system against invasion by foreign substances such as viruses or bacteria. White cells become specifically programmed against foreign invaders and work to inactivate and rid the body of a foreign substance. Also known as a leukocyte.