Taurine

Taurine

• Taurine (2-aminoethanesulfonic acid) is an amino acid present in many tissues of mammals. It plays an important role in heart, muscle, and nervous system functioning. Taurine is obtained through diet by eating meat, dairy, and seafood products. It can also be made in the body from the amino acid cysteine.

• Vegetarians may have lower plasma levels of taurine due to reduced intake of meats.

Mechanism of Action:

• Taurine can be synthesized in the body by cysteine sulfinic acid decarboxylase. It circulates in free form and is not incorporated into proteins.

• Taurine binds with cholesterol to form bile acid and protects the liver from alcohol-induced steatosis and lipid peroxidation. With respect to skeletal muscle, taurine facilitates Ca-dependent excitation-contraction processes, helps regulate cellular volume, and assists in antioxidant defense from stress responses. It also serves as a neurotransmitter and crosses the blood-brain barrier by transporters.

• Taurine reduces glutamate excitotoxicity through regulation of calcium ions. and mitochondrial energy metabolism.

Dosage:

• For congestive heart failure: 2-6 g of taurine per day in two or three divided doses.

• Hepatitis: 4 g of taurine three times daily for 6 weeks. Nausea and vomiting due to chemotherapy: 2 g of taurine daily for 6 months has been used.

• Muscle soreness after exercise: 2 g of taurine three times daily after meals. before exercise and continued 3 days after exercise.

Evidence:

• In vitro and in vivo, taurine demonstrated neuroprotective effects, reduced diabetic-induced nephropathy, and improved glycemic control. In animal models, chronic taurine intake reversed muscle dysfunction and atrophy and decreased oxidative stress, and maternal taurine ingestion conferred protection against offspring developing adult hypertension.

• In humans, consumption of taurine-rich foods has been associated with lower cardiovascular risk. Evidence on whether taurine can improve exercise performance is mixed and although taurine increased skeletal muscle in rodents, these results have not been duplicated in humans.

• Taurine has been associated with some adverse effects in animal models including increased infection risk, delayed learning and memory, and when coadministered with ethanol, drastic reductions in blood glucose resulting in death. In humans, adverse reactions have been reported from excessive ingestion of energy drinks with taurine and caffeine, and in combination with alcohol.

Precautions:

• Excessive taurine intake combined with alcohol and/or caffeine has caused severe adverse effects, including death. One case study showed acute kidney injury in a 7-year-old boy who ingested large quantities of both alcohol and an energy drink containing taurine and caffeine. One case study showed Tachycardia with death in a 28-year-old-man after drinking three cans of an energy drink containing caffeine and taurine among other ingredients.

Interactions:

• Caution to those taking antihypertensive medications as Taurine may increase the blood-pressure lowering effects of these drugs.