Taurine
Taurine is a conditionally essential amino acid, which is important for the metabolism of fat, is a key component of bile, and regulates the level of serum cholesterol. It is manufactured in the body from methionine and cysteine. Taurine helps move sodium, potassium and magnesium - three nutrients that are vital to brain and heart function, into and out of cells. It strengthens heart muscles, helps regulate blood pressure, and prevents heart failure and arrythmias (a form of irregular heartbeats). Taurine provides anti-oxidant protection to the body and stimulates the body's immune system. Rich sources are eggs, fish, meat, and milk. Doses are variable, ranging from 500mg to 3 grams daily. (For more detailed information, please visit ISM’s searchable database
(For more detailed information, please visit ISM’s searchable database: Nutraceutical Search.)
The mean plasma taurine concentration in patients after chemotherapy was significantly lower than the plasma taurine concentration of the healthy control subjects. Plasma taurine deficiency after intensive chemotherapy or radiotherapy was uniformly low in all patients.
o American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. (55) 708-711.
Taurine supplementation improves survival in mice after total body irradiation. Additionally, taurine supplementation hastens the recovery from neutropenia in total-body-irradiated mice.o J Biomed Biotechnol. 2004 (4): 175-176.
o American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. (55): 708-711.
The relationships between plasma taurine and other amino acid levels in sepsis, provide evidence of amino acid interactions that may support taurine availability and show more severe decreases in plasma taurine with the worsening of metabolic and cardio-respiratory patterns.o Journal of Nutrition. 2000; 130: 2222-2227.
Our own group has demonstrated a key role for taurine in modulation of apoptosis in a variety of cell types.o Redmond, HP, Stapleton, PP, Neary, P, & Bouchier-Hayes, D (1998). Immunonutrition: the role of taurine. Nutrition, 14(7), 599-604.