Taurine Overview

1) Conditions Studied for Taurine

Taurine has been studied for a variety of conditions, including but not limited to:

• Cardiovascular diseases
• Diabetes
• Epilepsy
• Neurological disorders
• High blood pressure
• Chronic hepatitis
• Eye health issues, such as retinal degeneration
• Exercise performance enhancement

2) Efficacy in Treating Conditions

Research on taurine suggests varying degrees of efficacy in treating conditions:

• Some studies show potential benefits in cardiovascular health and diabetes management.
• Its role in epilepsy treatment is less clear, with mixed results reported.
• For exercise performance, evidence points to possible benefits in reducing fatigue and muscle damage.

3) Health Benefits of Taurine

Reported health benefits of taurine include:

• Supporting metabolic processes
• Antioxidant properties
• Potential improvement in athletic performance
• Possibly aiding in the treatment of heart failure
• Contributing to the development and function of the brain, eyes, and other organs

4) Potential Downsides of Taurine

While taurine is generally considered safe, there are some potential downsides:

• High doses may cause an imbalance in other amino acids.
• Some individuals may experience gastrointestinal issues or allergic reactions.
• The long-term effects of excessive consumption are not well-documented.

5) Taurine and Genetic Variations

As of the current knowledge cutoff in 2023:

• There is limited research on taurine's effects in relation to specific genetic variations.
• Some studies suggest that genetic differences could influence the body's taurine levels and requirements.
• However, no definitive conclusions have been made regarding its benefits or harm in the context of particular genetic makeups.

Summary of Research on Taurine

Impact on Blood Pressure and Cardiovascular Health

A meta-analysis revealed that oral taurine supplementation can significantly reduce both systolic and diastolic blood pressure in humans, with no reported adverse effects. Taurine's antihypertensive benefits suggest its potential to lower blood pressure effectively, warranting further research on optimal doses and duration.

Roles and Regulation within the Body

Taurine, a semi-essential amino acid, plays a crucial role in maintaining cellular volume as an organic osmolyte. It is involved in various physiological processes such as development, lung and mitochondrial function, antioxidant defense, and apoptosis. These processes are influenced by taurine transporters and cellular taurine content.

Dietary Sources and Intake

Research indicates that taurine is present in meats, dairy products, and infant feeding solutions but absent in plant foods. Taurine levels in food items vary, and diets like omnivorous, lacto-ovovegetarian, and vegan offer different amounts of taurine intake.

Deficiency and Supplementation

Taurine deficiency is linked to conditions such as chronic liver, heart, or kidney failure, and preterm infants require taurine supplementation through breast milk. Studies on cats show that taurine is essential for reproductive performance, survival, and healthy development of offspring.

Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory Properties

Taurine has been recognized for its strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, potentially offering protection against coronary heart disease (CHD) and contributing to cardiovascular health. However, human epidemiological and intervention studies are limited and further research is needed.

Exercise and Physical Performance

Studies suggest that taurine supplementation may improve endurance exercise performance and reduce muscle damage and soreness. The effective dosage seems to be between 1-6 grams per day, but more research is required to fully understand its role in exercise and recovery.

Therapeutic Potential

Taurine has demonstrated potential benefits in managing chronic heart failure (CHF) by counteracting the negative effects of neurohumoral factors. It may enhance the activity of the electron transport chain in mitochondria and relax blood vessels, contributing to cardiovascular health.

References:

1. The Effects of Oral Taurine on Resting Blood Pressure in Humans: a Meta-Analysis
2. Physiological role of taurine--from organism to organelle
3. The potential protective effects of taurine on coronary heart disease
4. The taurine content of common foodstuffs
5. Taurine: a conditionally essential amino acid in humans? An overview in health and disease
6. Dietary taurine and feline reproduction and development
7. Myocardial failure in cats associated with low plasma taurine: a reversible cardiomyopathy
8. Retinal degeneration in cats fed casein. I. Taurine deficiency
9. Retinal degeneration associated with taurine deficiency in the cat
10. Retinal degeneration in primates raised on a synthetic human infant formula
11. Retinal morphology and visual pigment levels in 6- and 12-month-old rhesus monkeys fed a taurine-free human infant formula
12. Taurine in health and diseases: consistent evidence from experimental and epidemiological studies
13. Taurine in 24-h Urine Samples Is Inversely Related to Cardiovascular Risks of Middle Aged Subjects in 50 Populations of the World
14. The potential usefulness of taurine on diabetes mellitus and its complications
15. Physiological actions of taurine
16. Taurine: A Regulator of Cellular Redox Homeostasis and Skeletal Muscle Function
17. The effect of taurine on chronic heart failure: actions of taurine against catecholamine and angiotensin II
18. Use of taurine during rehabilitation after cardiac surgery
19. Effect of taurine administration on symptoms, severity, or clinical outcome of dilated cardiomyopathy and heart failure in humans: a systematic review
20. Taurine Supplementation Lowers Blood Pressure and Improves Vascular Function in Prehypertension: Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study
21. The effects of taurine supplementation on obesity, blood pressure and lipid profile: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
22. Acute effects of caffeine-containing energy drinks on physical performance: a systematic review and meta-analysis
23. A role for taurine in mitochondrial function
24. The Effects of an Oral Taurine Dose and Supplementation Period on Endurance Exercise Performance in Humans: A Meta-Analysis
25. The Dose Response of Taurine on Aerobic and Strength Exercises: A Systematic Review
26. Taurine supplementation reduces eccentric exercise-induced delayed onset muscle soreness in young men
27. Effects of taurine supplementation following eccentric exercise in young adults
28. Additional effects of taurine on the benefits of BCAA intake for the delayed-onset muscle soreness and muscle damage induced by high-intensity eccentric exercise
29. Combined effect of branched-chain amino acids and taurine supplementation on delayed onset muscle soreness and muscle damage in high-intensity eccentric exercise
30. Risk assessment for the amino acids taurine, L-glutamine and L-arginine
31. Scavenging and antioxidant potential of physiological taurine concentrations against different reactive oxygen/nitrogen species
32. Protective role of taurine against oxidative stress (Review)
33. Mechanism underlying the antioxidant activity of taurine: prevention of mitochondrial oxidant production
34. Taurine relaxes human radial artery through potassium channel opening action
35. The Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Taurine on Cardiovascular Disease
36. Taurine in sports and exercise
37. Acute effects of taurine on sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ accumulation and contractility in human type I and type II skeletal muscle fibers

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