Taurine

Other Names:2-Aminoethylsulfonic Acid, 2-Aminoethane Sulfonic Acid, Acide Aminoéthylsulfonique, Acide Kétoisocaproïque de Taurine, Acid Aminoethanesulfonate, Aminoethanesulfonate, Aminoéthylsulfonique, Éthyl Ester de Taurine, L-Taurine, Taurina, Taurine Ethyl Ester, Taurine Ketoisocaproic Acid.
Taurine is an amino acid, a chemical that is a required building block of protein. Taurine is found in large amounts in the brain, retina, heart, and blood cells called platelets. The best food sources are meat and fish. Taurine also occurs naturally in the body and plays a key role in many biological processes, such as detoxification and regulation of nerve-cell activity. Although low levels of taurine have been linked to several conditions (including eye diseases and cardiovascular problems), research on the health benefits of taurine supplements is fairly limited.

Special Precautions of Taurine

• Taurine is POSSIBLY SAFE for adults and children when taken by mouth in appropriate amounts. Taurine has been used safely in adults in studies lasting up to one year. It has been given safely to children for up to 4 months. People enrolled in research studies have not reported any side effects connected with the use of taurine. However, there is one report of brain damage in a body-builder who took about 14 grams of taurine in combination with insulin and anabolic steroids. It is not known if this was due to the taurine or the other drugs taken.
• Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Not enough is known about the safety of taurine in pregnancy and during breast-feeding. Avoid using it.
• Bipolar disorder: There is some concern that taking too much taurine might make bipolar disorder worse. In one case, a 36-year-old man with adequately controlled bipolar disorder was hospitalized with symptoms of mania after consuming several cans of an energy drink containing taurine, caffeine, inositol, and other ingredients (Red Bull Energy Drink) over a period of 4 days. It is not known if this is related to taurine, caffeine, inositol, a different ingredient, or a combination of the ingredients.
• it may cause some side effects (including itching, nausea, headache, and dizziness). If you notice any serious side effects while taking taurine supplements, it's important to discontinue your use of taurine.
• Lithium interacts with TAURINE

The benefits of Taurine are

• Congestive heart failure (CHF). Taking taurine seems to improve heart function and symptoms in patients with moderate heart failure (New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class II) to severe heart failure (New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class IV). Some patients with severe heart failure rapidly improve from NYHA class IV to II after 4-8 weeks of treatment. Improvement seems to continue for as long as taurine treatment is continued, up to one year.
• Liver disease (hepatitis). Taking taurine might improve liver function in patients with hepatitis.
• can improve cognitive function
• enhance sports performance
• preserve eyesight
• Heart Disease : Preliminary research suggests that taurine may help combat heart disease, according to a 2008 research review from Experimental and Clinical Cardiology. The review's authors note that taurine may help offer a number of cardiovascular benefits (such as protection against hardening of the arteries), but caution that more research is needed before taurine supplements can be recommended for the prevention or treatment of any heart condition.In a more recent study, scientists discovered that taurine supplements may help reduce levels of homocysteine (an amino acid shown to raise heart disease risk when detected at elevated levels). Published in Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology in 2009, the study involved 22 healthy middle-aged women. After four weeks of taking 3 grams of taurine in supplement form daily, study participants showed a significant decrease in homocysteine levels.
• increase energy levels
• Taurine is also known to act as an antioxidant.
• Diabetes : There's some evidence that taurine may protect against diabetes and diabetes-related complications. In a 2006 report from Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care, for instance, researchers analyzed findings from preliminary research and found that taurine may help prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes.Published in Diabetes/Metabolism Research and Reviews in 2001, an earlier report indicates that taurine supplementation shows promise in the prevention of certain diabetes-related complications (such as atherosclerosis).
• Hypertension (High Blood Pressure) : Taurine may help treat high blood pressure, according to a 2002 report published in Amino Acids. Looking at data from preliminary research, the report's authors found that taurine supplementation may lead to significant decreases in blood pressure. However, due to the lack of large clinical trials testing taurine's effects on blood pressure, taurine supplements cannot currently be recommended as a treatment for high blood pressure.
• Anxiety : Preliminary findings from animal-based research suggests that taurine may offer anxiety relief. For example, a 2006 study from Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior found that rats treated with taurine experienced a significant decrease in anxiety.To date, there is a lack of studies testing taurine's anti-anxiety effects in humans.
• Autism : Autism is associated with increased oxidative stress to the brain and nervous system. Taurine has the potential to treat autism due to its antioxidative properties.Children with autism have low taurine levels. Taurine supplementation may help elevate levels of taurine.
• ADHD/ADD : Taurine May Improve Symptoms of ADHD. Taurine, through its anti-inflammatory action, reduced ADHD like behaviors such as hyperactivity in rats. Although it helps reduce anxiety, there is not much evidence in regards to treating ADHD in human children.
• Tinnitus : Dietary taurine supplementation eliminated tinnitus (constant ringing in the ears) in rats. Higher amounts (4 mg/mL vs 1 mg/mL) and frequencies of taurine supplementation yielded better results. The GABA like calming action of taurine in the brain auditory circuits may be responsible for this improvement.