Current research describes taurine as a primary nutrient. It controls muscle metabolism and much more. It also stabilizes cell membranes, and has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory actions. Therefore, it plays many biological roles, including conjugation of bile acids, helps maintain fluid homeostasis, stabilizes cell membrane, and manages calcium signaling. It’s essential for cardiovascular function, the development and function of skeletal muscles, the retina, and the central nervous system. Few other nutrients do so much!
Most amino acid compounds contain both an amino and a carboxyl group. Taurine is termed an amino acid because it’s an acid containing an amino group. Yet, it’s not an amino acid in the usual biochemical sense. Additionally, it’s an unusual chemical because it is one of few amino groups containing sulfonic acid, which are stronger than carboxylic acids.
Taurine is a potent antioxidant. Yet, researchers found that it is neither a classical free radical scavenger nor a regulator of antioxidant defenses. It serves as a regulator of mitochondrial protein synthesis for protecting mitochondria from superoxide generation. (Jong, Azuma, & Schaffer, 2012) In additon, taurine’s antioxidant effects can protect against age-related lipid peroxidation. (Yildirim & Kilic, 2011)
It’s also essential for energy production, which is why energy drinks contain taurine. Energy drinks can have up to 2,000 mg. The combination of ginseng and taurine in some energy drinks may offer synergistic benefits. Cognitive performance is improved when it is combined with caffeine, also common in energy drinks. (Valle et al., 2017)
Top 20 Taurine benefits
- Prevents cataracts (Choudhary & Bodakhe, 2016)
- Reduces oxidative stress caused by diabetes (Patel & Lau-Cam, 2017)
- Limits complications of diabetes (Ito, Schaffer, & Azuma, 2012)
- Reverses cardiovascular risk factors
- Reduces atrial fibrillation
- Treats fatty liver
- Alleviates seizures
- Reverses tinnitus
- Fights obesity
- Lowers inflammation
- Lowers cholesterol
- Improves kidney function
- Decreases blood pressure (Liang et al., 2017)
- Lowers homocysteine
- Helps muscles work harder and longer
- Enhances bone remodeling (Choi, 2009)
- Prevents age-related vision loss
- Protective effects in brain injury (Wang et al., 2016)
- Improves memory
- Delays muscle atrophy during aging (De Luca, Pierno, & Camerino, 2015)
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