Taurine

Taurine is an amino acid that is found in meat and other animal foods, except in milk and milk products, which protects the heart from harm.  It was first discovered and isolated from ox bile in 1827 where there was high concentration of taurine.  Since it was connected with bovine ( latin name ‘bos taurus’) ‘taurine’ name was derived from it. It strengthens bile acids to clear cholesterol from the body.  It combats cellular problems that are harmful to the heart.  This nutrient was discovered in the 1820s but the therapeutic value of taurine still remains to be verified.  It occurs in the body as a free molecule and is it never becomes a part of muscle proteins.  Taurine molecule is water soluble and doesn’t cross the fatty membranes which comprised the body’s cell. It could be called an amino acid. Rather, it is a product of the metabolism of the amino acid. Although there are conflicting reports about the herb but some claim that it has health benefits for vision disorders, epilepsy and gallstones. It is found in the muscle and lungs, nerve tissue and bile of many animals. It is one of the less popular animals but it plays vital roles in the body and is necessary to newborns. For quite some time it was regarded as nonessential for humans but recently it was found out that it could be essential under certain circumstances. 

The body synthesizes taurine on its own. Those who are strict vegetarian that do not eat meat however are advised to get taurine from other sources in order to have the recommended allowance for this amino acid derivative.  This is especially true for pregnant women or those planning to have children.  Taurine is an essential ingredient in the development of visual and central nervous systems of the fetus and growing infant.

There are a number of uses for taurine in the body which include:

* It is an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system.
* It plays a role in digestion.
* Taurine is good when under high stress or in disease states.
* It functions as a detoxifying agent.
* It is required for efficient fat absorption and solubilization.
* It is an effect antioxidant.
* It may have an important role in renal development. 

Taurine enhances or decreases the action of other nutrients like some herbs.  Monosodium glutamate can reduce the effectiveness of taurine.  Meanwhile, zinc has the opposite effect as it enhances taurine. Amino acids beta-alanine and beta-hyptaurine including vitamin B panthotenic acid can lessen the effect of taurine.  Zinc deficiency and combined vitamin A and zinc deficiency are connected with increased taurine excretion in the urine.  Cysteine and viamin B6 are the most critical nutrients that support the manufacture of taurine in human beings.
Consult your doctor if you wish to try taurine supplements.

Taurine is one of the ingredients you can find in energy drinks such as Red Bull. It is also found in pills which contain caffeine and/or other stimulants.