Health Benefits of Taurine » The Nutraceutical Database

Taurine Molecular Structure

Taurine is a non-essential Sulfur-Containing amino acid. Being a non-essential amino acid means that it can be produced endogenously (within the body). Taurine benefits many functions in the body and deficiencies are often overlooked as a cause of disease. If you have a pet, you might already be aware of Taurine’s role in heart health, well the same is true for humans.

Although Taurine is not classified as an essential amino acid (meaning it must be obtained through diet), this 2012 review of the amino acid refers to it as “very essential”. “Taurine is an organic osmolyte involved in cell volume regulation, and provides a substrate for the formation of bile salts. It plays a role in the modulation of intracellular free calcium concentration, and although it is one of the few amino acids not incorporated into proteins, taurine is one of the most abundant amino acids in the brain, retina, muscle tissue, and organs throughout the body. Taurine serves a wide variety of functions in the central nervous system, from development to cytoprotection, and taurine deficiency is associated with cardiomyopathy, renal dysfunction, developmental abnormalities, and severe damage to retinal neurons. All ocular tissues contain taurine, and quantitative analysis of ocular tissue extracts of the rat eye revealed that taurine was the most abundant amino acid in the retina, vitreous, lens, cornea, iris, and ciliary body. In the retina, taurine is critical for photoreceptor development and acts as a cytoprotectant against stress-related neuronal damage and other pathological conditions.”

Taurine has gotten a bad rap as of late due to its wrongly being attributed to the negative side effects of many energy drinks. In fact, the endogenous production of Taurine is essential for optimum health and defects in production are often overlooked as a cause of disease. Side effects from energy drinks are caused by their high caffeine content and over-ingestion.

The Health Benefits of Taurine:

CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM

• Helps prevent/treat Arrhythmias.
• Atherosclerosis may be prevented/treated with supplementation.
• Promotes normal blood clotting.
• Cardiomyopathy may be prevented/treated with supplementation.
• 1,000 – 4,000mg per day may improve Cardiac and Respiratory function in Congestive Heart Failure patients.
• 5,000 – 6,000mg of per day may alleviate Ischemic Heart Disease.
• Normalizes the electrical excitability of Cardiac Cell Membranes and enhances contractile strength of the Cardiac Muscle by normalizing Potassium flow in and out of the Heart Muscle.
• Facilitates the transport of certain minerals in and out of the Heart muscle normalizing the balance of Calcium/Magnesium, Potassium/Sodium and Selenium within cells.
• Regulates the activity of cyclic AMP (cAMP) within the Cardiac muscle.
• The most abundant and important Amino Acid in the Heart.
• Supplementation may prevent Heart Attack as most Heart Attack patients exhibit low levels.
• Helps prevent potentially lethal Arrhythmias after a Heart Attack.
• 6,000mg per day may lower Blood Pressure by suppressing Renin-Angiotensin.
• May help to prevent Stroke.

DETOXIFICATION

• Reduces the toxicity of Acetaldehyde by activating Aldehyde Dehydrogenase accelerating the clearance of Acetaldehyde from the body.
• Inhibits damage to Neurons from excess Glutamic Acid.
• Helps counteract the toxic effects of Homocysteine and may lower elevated levels of Homocysteine.
• May inhibit the ability of Fructose to initiate the Cross-Linking of endogenous proteins.
• Helps to counteract the deficiency that occurs as a side effect of Radiation Therapy.
• May help to counteract damage to the Liver caused by Carbon Tetrachloride.
• May help protect the Lungs against damage caused by Ozone.
• Can inhibit Adrenaline release.
• Helps to inhibit the auto-oxidation of Adrenaline to Adrenochrome.
• Helps counteract the toxic effects and facilitates the removal of the following toxic minerals:

▪ Aluminum
▪ Arsenic
▪ Cadmium
▪ Florine
▪ Iron (excess)
▪ Lead
▪ Mercury

• The toxic effects of Ammonia can be mitigated by supplementation.
• Can reduce the production of Lactic Acid during Endurance Exercise.
• Supplementation can replace the severe depletion caused by Anti-Cancer drugs:

▪ May inhibit damage to the Lungs by Bleomycin.
▪ Helps inhibit the ability of Cyclophosphamide to damage the Immune System and Bladder.
▪ The toxic effects of Methotrexate can be mitigated by supplementation.
▪ Mitochondrial and Liver damage caused by Tamoxifen may be inhibited by supplementation.

• May prevent Liver damage caused by Cyclosporine.
• Deafness caused by Gentamicin may be prevented by supplementation.
• May reduce liver damage caused by Paracetamol.
• The production and toxicity of Amyloid-Beta Protein and Apoprotein (b) may be inhibited by supplementation.
• May reduce the risk of Cardiovascular Disease in Tobacco smokers.
• Reduces the toxicity of Alcohol by enhancing its clearance from the body by activating Aldehyde Dehydrogenase.
• Alcohol cravings can be reduced by supplementation.
• Reduces the incidence and severity of Hangovers.
• Activates Glutamate Decarboxylase.

DIGESTIVE SYSTEM

• May help to prevent Colitis.
• A component of Bile and may aid in the breakdown of dietary fats.
• Gallstones may be prevented by supplementation.
• Stress induced Gastric Ulcers may be prevented by supplementation.
• Helps to prevent Alcohol induced damage to the Gastric Mucosa
• The severity of Pancreatitis may be reduced by supplementation.
• Enhances the digestion and absorption of Fat-Soluble vitamins.

EXCRETORY SYSTEM

• May help to prevent/treat Diabetic Nephropathy.
• Symptoms of Interstitial Cystitis may be alleviated by supplementation.
• Concentrates in the cortex of the Kidneys.
• Increases urine production and may function as a diuretic.

EYES / VISION

• Concentrates in the Macula and Retina where it exerts powerful Antioxidant properties which may help to prevent and reverse Age-Related Macular Degeneration (ARMD).
• Cataracts may be prevented by supplementation.
• Concentrates in the Macula of the Eye.
• Eye-Fatigue caused by computer displays may be alleviated by supplementation.
• Retinitis Pigmentosa may be caused by a deficiency.
• Diabetic Retinopathy may be prevented by supplementation.
• Enhances the function of the Rods and Cones of the Retina which is essential for optimal Sight.

IMMUNE SYSTEM

• Concentrates in White Blood Cells.
• May reduce inflammation caused as the result of Surgery.
• Can improve the ability of Neutrophils to function as Phagocytes enhancing their ability to destroy detrimental Bacteria.
• May be helpful in the treatment of Liver Cancer as it inhibits Lipid Peroxidation and enhances cellular defense mechanisms.
• May inhibit the production of Interleukin 1 (IL-1) and Interleukin 6 (IL-6).

METABOLISM

• A potent Antioxidant.
• Inhibits Glycation (the Cross-Linking of endogenous proteins).
• Enhances the production of Glutathione.
• Athletic Performance may be enhanced by supplementation.
• May stimulate the production of Human Growth Hormone (hGH).
• Cholestasis (congested Liver) may me prevented by supplementation.
• May prevent/treat neuronal damage in neonatal Jaundice.
• Can improve one’s Cholesterol profile by:

▪ Lowering Total Serum Cholesterol
▪ Increasing High Density Lipoproteins (HDL)
▪ Lowering Low Density Lipoproteins (LDL)
▪ Very-Low Density Lipoproteins (VLDL)
▪ Lowering Triglycerides

• Cirrhosis may be prevented/treated by supplementation.
• Can prevent Fatty Liver.
• By potentiating the effects of Insulin, it can improve the condition of Diabetes Mellitus patients (both Type 1 & Type 2).
• May prevent/treat Diabetic Nephropathy.
• Can improve Insulin Sensitivity.
• May counteract the ability of intense Exercise to damage Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) and also delay Exercise-induced Fatigue.
• Cardiovascular System damage in Hemochromatosis patients may be prevented by supplementation.
• Can reduce Liver damage caused by chronic Hepatitis.
• Helps reduce Liver damage caused by many Toxins such as:

▪ Alcohol
▪ Paracetamol
▪ Carbon Tetrachloride
▪ Lead
▪ Mercury

• May facilitate Weight Loss.
• By acting as a Diuretic, it reduces Edema.

MUSCULOSKELETAL SYSTEM

• Concentrates in skeletal muscle and supplementation may increase Muscle Strength.
• Muscle Cramps may be alleviated by supplementation.
• Can increase Muscle Strength.

NERVOUS SYSTEM

• Concentrates in the Brain and Central Nervous System and is the second most abundant Amino Acid in the Brain next to Glutamic Acid.
• May increase the levels of Acetylcholine, Gamma Aminobutyric Acid (GABA) and Histamine within the Brain.
• Concentrates in the Hippocampus and plays a role in Memory by increasing Histamine and Acetylcholine levels.
• Stabilizes the Myelin Sheath of Neurons.
• Within the Brain, functions as an Inhibitory Neurotransmitter.
• Can increase the sensitivity and or activate GABAa and Glycine Receptors.
• May serve as a N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) Receptor Antagonist.
• Can alleviate symptoms of Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome by improving the Inhibitory:Stimulatory Neurotransmitter balance.
• Supplementation may alleviate Anxiety.
• Can alleviate some cases of Depression.
• May reduce Stress.
• Insomnia may be alleviated by supplementation.
• A valuable adjunct in the treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease especially when combined with Vitamin B2 and Zinc.
• By sedating the Central Nervous System, it may help alleviate some of the symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease.
• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) may result from deficiency.
• Autism patients may be deficient.
• Epilepsy patients may suffer from deficiency.
• May help prevent Convulsions.
• Muscular Tics may be alleviated by supplementation.
• May be useful in the treatment of Spinal Cord injuries.
• Mood and Mood Disorders may be improved by supplementation.
• Can enhance Learning Ability.
• May help protect the Brain from Hypoxia.
• Reduces Amyloid-Beta Protein toxicity.

RESPIRATORY SYSTEM

• Useful in the treatment of Asthma.
• Helps to protect the Lungs from the toxic effects of environmental Ozone.

SEXUAL SYSTEM (Male)

• Male Infertility can be alleviated by supplementation.

SKIN

• May facilitate the production of Ceramides in the Skin.
• Dry Skin may be alleviated by supplementation.
• May prevent/treat Male Pattern Baldness.
• Helps to stabilize Cell Membranes.
• Inhibits the ability of Fructose to initiate Cross-Linking of Collagen in the Skin.

USAGE

Taurine is not present in any Plant sources so Vegans are particularly susceptible to deficiencies. Only Human Milk contains high levels of Taurine, Cow’s Milk does not. Since Taurine can potentate the effects of Insulin, Hypoglycemia patients should use Taurine with caution, starting with small doses to evaluate its effects. Taurine is well absorbed when consumed orally.

The general supplementation range for Taurine is 500 – 1,500mg per day. A minimum of 1,500mg per day of Taurine is required to stabilize the Myelin Sheath of Neurons. A minimum of 2,000mg per day is recommended when undergoing Chemotherapy and or Radiation Therapy. The dose shown to be effective after Heart Attack and to lower Blood Pressure is 6,000mg per day divided. Human clinical trials have shown no adverse effects of Taurine supplementation at 10 grams per day.

Taurine is best consumed on an empty stomach with water 30 – 60 minutes prior to meals. When working with higher daily dosages, its best to divide your total intake into 2 or 3 doses throughout the day.