Taurine as a therapeutic supplement
Taurine is a naturally occurring amino acid critical for various bodily functions, primarily found in the nervous system and muscles. It is known to play a role in regulating heartbeat, maintaining cell membranes, and influencing neurotransmitter release in the brain. Although the body can synthesize taurine from vitamin B6 and certain amino acids, deficiencies may arise, particularly in vegetarians and those with diabetes. As a therapeutic supplement, taurine is primarily proposed for conditions like congestive heart failure and acute viral hepatitis, with some preliminary evidence supporting its efficacy in these areas. Additional potential uses include addressing issues such as alcoholism, cataracts, diabetes, epilepsy, and cardiovascular health, though the supporting evidence for these applications is often weak. Taurine is generally considered safe at dosages up to 3 grams per day, but maximum safe dosages for certain populations, such as children and pregnant women, have not been definitively established. Those interested in taurine supplementation should consult healthcare providers, especially when dealing with serious health conditions.
Taurine as a therapeutic supplement
DEFINITION: Natural substance of the human body used as a supplement to treat specific health conditions.
PRINCIPAL PROPOSED USES: Congestive heart failure, viral hepatitis
OTHER PROPOSED USES: Alcoholism, cataracts, diabetes, epilepsy, gallbladder disease, hypertension (high blood pressure), multiple sclerosis, psoriasis, stroke, cardiovascular health, metabolic issues, neurological conditions, eye health, liver health, athletic performance
Overview
Taurine is an amino acid, one of the building blocks of proteins. It is one of the most abundant amino acids in the body, found in the nervous system and muscles. Taurine is thought to help regulate heartbeat, maintain cell membranes, and affect the release of neurotransmitters (chemicals that carry signals between nerve cells) in the brain.
Requirements and Sources
There is no dietary requirement for taurine since the body can make it from vitamin B6 and the amino acids methionine and cysteine. Deficiencies occasionally occur in vegetarians, whose diets may not provide the building blocks for making taurine. People with diabetes have lower-than-average blood levels of taurine, but whether this means they should take extra taurine is unclear.
Meat, poultry, eggs, dairy products, and fish are good sources of taurine. Legumes and nuts do not contain taurine, but they do contain methionine and cysteine.
Therapeutic Dosages
A typical therapeutic dosage of taurine is 2 grams (g) three times daily.
Therapeutic Uses
Preliminary evidence suggests that taurine might be helpful for treatment of congestive heart failure (CHF), a condition in which the heart has trouble pumping blood, leading to fluid accumulating in the legs and lungs. Because CHF is too serious a condition for self-treatment, persons who are interested in trying taurine or any other supplement for CHF should first consult with their doctors.
There is also some evidence that taurine may be helpful for acute viral hepatitis. Taurine has additionally been proposed as a treatment for numerous other conditions, including alcoholism, cataracts, diabetes, epilepsy, gallbladder disease, hypertension, multiple sclerosis, psoriasis, and stroke, but the evidence for these uses is weak and, in some cases, contradictory. Taurine is also sometimes combined in an “amino acid cocktail” with other amino acids to treat attention deficit disorder, but there is no evidence that it works for this purpose.
Evidence from one study showed that taurine supplementation may slow the aging process. Researchers found that taurine controls oxidative stress, which plays a key role in aging, in women ages 55 to 70.
Many other suggested therapeutic uses for taurine exist. Some studies suggest that higher levels of taurine are linked to lower levels of cholesterol and lower blood pressure, suggesting valuable cardiovascular benefits. Taurine may help improve insulin resistance and decrease the risk of complications from diabetes. It may also help control obesity. Taurine may provide protective benefits against epilepsy and from cognitive decline from Alzheimer's. Additional suggested therapeutic uses of taurine include promoting liver and eye health and enhancing exercise performance.
Scientific Evidence
Congestive heart failure. Several studies (primarily by one research group) suggest that taurine may be useful for congestive heart failure. For example, in one double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, fifty-eight people with CHF took either placebo or 2 g of taurine three times daily for four weeks; the groups were then switched. During taurine treatment, the study participants showed highly significant improvement in breathlessness, heart palpitations, fluid buildup, and heart X-ray, as well as standard scales of heart failure severity. Animal research as well as small blinded or open studies in humans have also found positive effects. Interestingly, one very small study compared taurine with another supplement commonly used for CHF, coenzyme Q10. The results suggest that taurine is more effective.
Viral hepatitis. Several viruses can cause acute viral hepatitis, a disabling and sometimes dangerous infection of the liver. The most common of these are hepatitis A and B, although there are others (hepatitis C and D).
One double-blind study suggests that taurine supplements might be useful for acute viral hepatitis. In this double-blind, placebo-controlled study, sixty-three people with hepatitis were given either 12 g of taurine daily or placebo. (The report does not state what type of viral hepatitis they had.) According to blood tests, the taurine group experienced significant improvements in liver function compared with the placebo group.
Acute hepatitis can also develop into a long-lasting or permanent condition known as chronic hepatitis. One small double-blind study suggests that taurine does not help chronic hepatitis. For this purpose, the herb milk thistle may be better.
Anti-Aging. A 2022 study published in Nutrition showed that taurine supplements could be used to control oxidative stress, which plays a significant role in the aging process. The double-blind study consisted of twenty-four women who were randomly assigned either 1.5 grams of taurine or a placebo to be taken daily for 16 weeks. Researchers found that the taurine supplementation prevented a decrease in the antioxidant enzyme SOD (superoxide dismutase), which suggested that taurine controls oxidative stress during aging.
Safety Issues
As an amino acid found in food, taurine is thought to be quite safe. There is strong evidence that taurine is safe at levels up to 3 g per day, although higher dosages have been tested without apparent adverse effects. However, maximum safe dosages of taurine supplements for children, pregnant or nursing women, and those with severe liver or kidney disease have not been determined.
As with any supplement taken in multi-gram doses, it is important that users of taurine purchase reputable products, because a contaminant present even in small percentages could add up to a real problem.
Bibliography
Abud, Gabriella. "Taurine as a Possible Antiaging Therapy: A Controlled Clinical Trial on Taurine Antioxidant Activity in Women Ages 55 to 70." Nutrition, 22 Apr. 2022, doi.org/10.1016/j.nut.2022.111706. Accessed 20 Dec. 2022.
Beyranvand, Mohamad Reza, et al. "Effect of Taurine Supplementation on Exercise Capacity of Patients with Heart Failure." Journal of Cardiology, vol. 57, no. 3, 2011, pp. 333-337, doi.org/10.1016/j.jjcc.2011.01.007. Accessed 16 Sept. 2024.
Chen, Qi, et al. "The Dose Response of Taurine on Aerobic and Strength Exercises: A Systematic Review." Frontiers in Psychology, 18 Aug. 2021, doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2021.700352. Accessed 20 Dec. 2022.
Shao, A., and J. N. Hathcock. "Risk Assessment for the Amino Acids Taurine, L-Glutamine, and L-Arginine." Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology, vol. 50, 2008, pp. 376-399.
Tzang, Chih, et al. "Taurine Reduces the Risk for Metabolic Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials." Nutrition & Diabetes, vol. 14, no. 1, 2024, pp. 1-11, doi.org/10.1038/s41387-024-00289-z. Accessed 16 Sept. 2024.