Description
Taurine is an endogenous sulfonic acid found in the intestines; it is a primary component of bile acids. Taurine exhibits antioxidative, hepatoprotective, vasodilatory, cardiomodulatory, neuromodulatory, anxiolytic, and anti-hyperlipidemic activities. Taurine plays a significant role in Ca2+ signaling, cardiovascular function, skeletal muscle development, and membrane stabilization. In vivo, taurine decreases lipid peroxidation and prevents the development of fatty liver disease. Taurine acts as an agonist at GABA-A receptors and glycine receptors and increases open area time in animal models undergoing tests of anxiety. Additionally, taurine decreases blood pressure when administered chronically and increases it when administered acutely. In other animal models, taurine decreases levels of LDL, total cholesterol, triglycerides, and glucose and increases levels of HDL.
References
El Idrissi A, Okeke E, Yan X, et al. Taurine regulation of blood pressure and vasoactivity. Adv Exp Med Biol. 2013;775:407-25. PMID: 23392950.
Choi MJ, Kim JH, Chang KJ. The effect of dietary taurine supplementation on plasma and liver lipid concentrations and free amino acid concentrations in rats fed a high-cholesterol diet. Adv Exp Med Biol. 2006;583:235-42. PMID: 17153607.
Bouckenooghe T, Remacle C, Reusens B. Is taurine a functional nutrient? Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 2006 Nov;9(6):728-33. PMID: 17053427.
Kong WX, Chen SW, Li YL, et al. Effects of taurine on rat behaviors in three anxiety models. Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 2006 Feb;83(2):271-6. PMID: 16540157.
Kerai MD, Waterfield CJ, Kenyon SH, et al. Taurine: protective properties against ethanol-induced hepatic steatosis and lipid peroxidation during chronic ethanol consumption in rats. Amino Acids. 1998;15(1-2):53-76. PMID: 9871487.
Huxtable RJ. Physiological actions of taurine. Physiol Rev. 1992 Jan;72(1):101-63. PMID: 1731369.
