Taurine

An Amino Acid

Description:

Taurine is a thiol (containing sulfur) nonessential amino acid and synthesized primarily in the liver from methionine and cysteine with the assistance of vitamin B6.

Plants/Foods:

• Animal sources except cow's milk
• Organ meat, especially brain

Physiologic Functions:

• Facilitates the cellular flux of sodium, potassium and possibly calcium and magnesium ions
• Increases the hormone prolactin for lactating women
• May be an inhibitory neurotransmitter
• Modulates calcium flux and neuron excitability
• Modulates the activity of cAMP
• Part of white blood cell defense mechanism
• Required for conjugation of bile acids
• Required for nervous system development
• Required for the normal functioning of the heart, brain, eyes, gallbladder, and vascular system

Clinical Indications:

• Congestive heart failure
• Cholecystitis
• Cholelithiasis
• Diabetes mellitus
• Endometriosis
• Hepatitis
• Hypertension
• Macular degeneration
• Acute hepatitis
• Cardiovascular disease
• Cystic fibrosis
• Down's syndrome
• Hypercholesterolemia
• Seizures

Signs and Symptoms of Deficiency:

• Failure to thrive in infants

Causes of Deficiencies:

• Estradiol
• High stress
• Homocystinuria
• Hypertension and seizure disorders increase the need for taurine
• Vitamin B6 deficiency

Contraindications:

• Kidney disease
• Liver disease
• Peptic ulcer disease (PUD)

Toxicity and Side Effects:

• Generally well tolerated

Copyright 1998 - 2008 by L. Vicky Crouse, ND and James S. Reiley, ND. All rights reserved (ISSN 1527-0661).