Taurine

Taurine is a nutrient belonging to the non-essential amino acid class.

Taurine is also known as 2-aminoethanesulfonic acid, L-taurine, tauric acid.

Taurine is a non-essential amino acid supporting the body's immunological, digestive, and central nervous systems.

Taurine deficiency is very uncommon in humans. It may be associated with cardiomyopathy, renal failure, developmental abnormalities, pancreatic beta-cell malfunction and severe damage to retinal neurons.

Meat, shellfish, and dairy products are some of the primary sources of taurine. The quantity of taurine in plants is negligible.

Taurine gets transported throughout tissues like the brain and heart, absorbed in the small intestine, metabolised in the liver, and eliminated in the urine. Its functions also include heart health and osmoregulation.

The common side effects of Taurine include GI disturbances, hypotension and allergic reactions.

Taurine is available in capsules and oral powders.

Biochemical action of Taurine

Taurine belonging to the supplement class, acts in several physiological processes.

Taurine, a significant amino acid in the brain, retina, muscles, and organs, is not used in protein synthesis. Research suggests that taurine participates in various biological activities, despite the absence of well-characterised mechanisms. Dietary taurine helps to maintain taurine reserves, yet its role in human nutrition is still uncertain. The suggested roles of taurine include:

• Antioxidant activity.
• Neurotransmitter/neuromodulator activity.
• Bile salt production assistance.
• Cell volume regulation as an intracellular osmolyte.
• Cell membrane stabilisation.

Additionally, it could affect growth regulation, immunity, and other functions. Although understanding is still being developed, the complex nature of taurine's effects emphasises its importance across many biological systems.

Eye function and health: Taurine, which is present in all ocular tissues and essential for forming photoreceptors in the retina, protects cells against pathological situations such as stress-related neuronal damage. Supplementation can prevent isolated rod outer segments from photic injury by preventing light-induced lipid peroxidation.

Bile acid conjugation: Before being excreted in the bile, taurine is preferentially conjugated with bile acids in the liver, mainly producing taurocholic acid. CYP7A1, a biomarker for cholesterol metabolism, regulates the control of cholesterol and bile acid homeostasis.

Half-life range from 0.7-1.4 h.

Taurine supplements are available in capsules and oral powders.

• Capsules: To be swallowed whole with water/liquid, as applicable.
• Powders, oral: Powders must be mixed thoroughly with the appropriate amount of liquid and stirred well to dissolve the powder, as applicable.

Taurine can be used as a supplement when the amount of Taurine taken from the diet is insufficient.

Taurine supplements may both increase Ca2+ availability and resist Ca2+ overload as a modulator of intra- and extracellular calcium levels.

Taking taurine supplements by mouth might improve liver function in people with hepatitis.

When used as a supplement, Taurine may prevent endoplasmic reticulum stress associated with neurological diseases and suppresses mitochondrial malfunction in neurons.

Taurine supplements may support healthy immunological function and neuronal cells.

Vitamins and natural supplements should not replace a balanced diet.

This product is not intended to diagnose, treat or prevent any disease(s).

Taurine can help to support as a supplement for the following health benefits:

• Deficiency, treatment and prevention: Since taurine deficiency has not been extensively studied in humans, much of the information is derived from in vitro and animal research. Low plasma levels may indicate a taurine shortage, and these levels can be restored by supplemental taurine.
• Growth and development: Although the mechanism for this has not been explained, findings from animal research have revealed that a maternal diet supplemented with taurine during late gestation led to increased foetus plasma taurine levels and the offspring's improved postnatal growth.
• Cardiovascular disease (CVD): Supplemental taurine has been shown to control blood pressure, enhance heart health, and lower blood fat levels in individuals with cardiac problems, including heart failure. It may prevent heart disease at large doses. According to research, higher levels of taurine have been linked to considerably lower risks of heart disease mortality, lower blood pressure, and lower cholesterol.

• Diabetes: The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of taurine may improve insulin sensitivity, lowering the risk of type 2 diabetes or enhancing blood sugar control in people with the disease. According to one research, patients with diabetes had taurine concentrations that were 25% lower than those without the disease. This indicates that taurine may be useful in the treatment of diabetes.
• Athletic Performance: Recent research found that taurine can have various effects on sports performance. Anaerobic and aerobic performance, metabolic stress, discomfort of the muscles, and restoration are all examined. 1-6g dosages taken 10–120 minutes before exercise were studied in research, sometimes in combination with regular usage. For conclusive suggestions, further research is needed to fully understand how exercise type, age, and time affect results.
• Liver disease: Taurine supplementation has been reported to alleviate liver injury and improve liver function.
• CNS role: Taurine is a partial agonist of the GABAA receptor and exhibits structural similarities with GABA. When under stress, taurine levels increase in the brain, potentially indicating a neuroprotective function.
• Obesity affects: The antiobesity benefits of taurine are mediated by modulation of lipid and glucose metabolism, enhancement of energy expenditure, suppression of inflammation, and suppression of hunger.

Taurine supplementation may be administered orally.

The taurine supplement is available in capsules and oral powders that can be taken orally. It is taken at bedtime on an empty stomach as it is absorbed best without food.

The dosage and duration of treatment should be as per the clinical judgment of the treating healthcare professional).

Vitamins and natural supplements should not replace a balanced diet

This product is not intended to diagnose, treat or prevent any disease(s).

• Capsules: 500 mg, 1000 mg
• Powders, oral: 500 mg, 3000 mg

Dosage Adjustment for Adult Patients

Congestive Heart Failure

2-6 g/day PO div BID-TID

Acute Hepatitis

4 g PO TID x 6 weeks

Cystathionine Beta-Synthase Deficient Homocystinuria (Orphan)

Indicated for treatment of cystathionine beta-synthase deficient homocystinuria

Taurine is available in capsules and oral powders.

Taurine should be used as a supplement that helps in several physiological processes and appropriate dietary restrictions.

• Avoid alcoholic beverages.
• Stay within your daily calorie needs.
• Limit foods and drinks with high taurine content, like energy drinks, saturated fat, and sodium.

The dietary restriction should be individualized as per patient requirements.

Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA)

Taurine supplements have no established recommended dose.

Upper Tolerable Intake (UTL):

Taurine has no upper therapeutic limit (UTL), as it is widely regarded as safe, and there is little proof of adverse effects from food consumption or supplementation.

Taurine supplementation may be contraindicated in the following conditions:

• Hypersensitivity; sensitive to Taurine.
• Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)
• Epilepsy
• Psoriasis

High doses of taurine (10 g/day for 6 months) have been taken without any significant side effects and no short-term results or long-term effects from its use. As per one study, the most extended duration recorded was 1 year.

Since there is little information about the effects of these doses, young people, immunocompromised individuals, pregnant women, and nursing mothers should consult a relevant health professional before consuming excessive amounts of the supplemental taurine found in many commercially available energy drinks (1000 mg/L).

Limit the consumption of foods and beverages higher in added sugars, saturated fat, and energy drinks, as these substances could hinder Taurine absorption.

The adverse reactions related to Taurine can be categorized as-

• Common: GI disturbances like stomach upset, nausea, or diarrhoea, especially with high doses.
• Less Common: Hypotension, headache and sleep disturbances.
• Rare: Allergic reactions, CNS effects like dizziness or confusion and cardiovascular effects like irregular heartbeats or palpitations.

The clinically relevant drug interactions of taurine are briefly summarized here.

• Lithium: Lithium elimination from the body might be slowed down by taurine. Lithium levels in the body might rise as a result. It is recommended to reduce the amount of lithium you are taking.
• Antihypertensive drugs: Blood pressure may be lowered by taurine. Combining taurine with blood pressure-lowering drugs may result in dangerously low blood pressure.
• Cytochrome P450: Any medications that are substrates of cytochrome P450 (CYP-450) 2E1 may be affected by taurine coadministration since it inhibits this isoenzyme.

The common side of Taurine includes the following:

• Nausea
• Diarrhoea
• Headaches
• Abdominal pain.
• Liver pain
• Rashes
• Itching
• Swelling
• Hypotension

Taurine should be prudent in the following group of special populations.

• Pregnancy:

There is no sufficient scientific evidence traceable regarding the use and safety of Taurine for use in special populations.

• Paediatrics:

Foods often include the amino acid taurine. It may be safe when given orally to children as medicine for up to 12 weeks.

Dosage Adjustment for Paediatric Patients

Steatorrhea in Children with Cystic Fibrosis

30 mg/kg day x 4 months in addition to pancreatic enzyme supplementation

Indicated for treatment of Cystathionine Beta-Synthase Deficient Homocystinuria.

• Geriatrics:

There is no sufficient scientific evidence traceable regarding the use and safety of Taurine for use in special populations.

• Lactating mothers:

There is no sufficient scientific evidence traceable regarding the use and safety of Taurine for use in special populations

Dosage Adjustment in Kidney Impairment

There are no specific dosage adjustments provided.

Dosage Adjustment in Hepatic Impairment

There are no specific dosage adjustments provided.

The physician should be vigilant about the knowledge pertaining to identifying and treating overdosage of Taurine. Overconsumption of Taurine may lead to health concerns such as gastrointestinal distress and a higher chance of cardiac problems.

There is no specific antidote or treatment for excessive intake of supplemental Taurine. Taurine supplements should be terminated immediately when an overdose is suspected or experience any unusual symptoms after Taurine supplement use or dietary intake. Supportive treatment should also be given, along with addressing any symptoms that persist or worsen, and physical therapy might be added if necessary.

Biochemistry Profile of Taurine

Taurine is an amino acid that contains sulphur and is essential for several physiological activities. According to biochemistry, the cysteine dioxygenase is involved in taurine biosynthesis in mammals from the amino acids methionine and cysteine. Taurine can also be acquired from food consumption.

A ubiquitous -amino acid with a variety of cytoprotective properties is taurine. Taurine is considered a semi-essential nutrient in humans, even though cells missing taurine exhibit severe disease. Taurine is an essential nutrient in several animals.

Functionally, taurine plays a vital role in controlling the osmotic equilibrium inside cells, promoting cardiovascular health by assisting in synthesising bile salts and serving as a modulator of neurotransmitters. Additionally, it affects antioxidation, calcium ion control, and membrane stabilisation.

The liver processes taurine into conjugated bile acids, which are then eliminated in the bile or urine. Its concentrations are more significant in tissues with active transport mechanisms for osmoregulation. Specific health problems have been linked to its deficiency.

Kinetic profile:

• Absorption: Through active transport processes, taurine is mainly absorbed in the small intestine.
• Distribution: Taurine is distributed widely throughout the body, with high concentrations in the brain, heart, muscles, and specific organs.
• Metabolism: Taurine metabolism occurs mainly in the liver, undergoing various processes, including conjugation and oxidation.
• Elimination: Taurine is primarily excreted in the urine after being metabolized. Some portions may also be eliminated through bile in faeces.

1. Braun L, Cohen M. October 1, 2014.Herbs and Natural Supplements; 4th Edition Vol-2. Australia. Elsevier.

2. Ripps, Harris, and Wen Shen. “Review: taurine: a "very essential" amino acid.” Molecular vision vol. 18 (2012): 2673-86.

3. Tessari P. 2019. Nonessential amino acid usage for protein replenishment in humans: a method of estimation; American Society for Nutrition. Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy

4. National Institute of Nutrition. 2011. Dietary guidelines for Indians; 2nd Edition. Hyderabad. India