| Taurine is one of those perhaps lesser known | | | | Finally, although it remains a matter of some |
| amino acids which are known to medicine as | | | | controversy, taurine's role in balancing cell |
| "non-essential". But "non-essential" in this context | | | | chemistry is also believed by some nutritionists to |
| simply means that it is not essential to ensure a | | | | protect against epileptic and other types of brain |
| daily intake from diet, because the compound can | | | | seizure. It is also found in very high concentrations |
| be manufactured by the body, albeit in fairly small | | | | in the white blood cells which are the key to a |
| quantities. It should not be taken as lessening the | | | | healthy immune system, and is believed to help |
| importance of taurine or the other non-essential | | | | stabilise blood sugar levels. |
| amino acids in any way. | | | | To manufacture sufficient taurine within the body |
| Much publicity has recently been given to taurine | | | | a good supply of the essential amino acids is |
| as a way of preventing hangovers and slowing or | | | | required, particularly methionine. By far the best |
| even reversing the liver damage caused by long | | | | sources of these are the so-called "first-class" |
| term excess alcohol consumption. So taurine is | | | | protein foods, called first-class precisely because |
| commonly added with caffeine to the energy | | | | they contain all of the essential amino acids. Meat, |
| drinks increasingly sold as mixers to take with | | | | poultry, fish and dairy products are all within this |
| alcoholic drinks. Whilst it has to be said that the | | | | group, and for the purposes of taurine, shellfish |
| "jury's still out" on some of the wilder claims | | | | are a particularly rich source. |
| made in this regard, there is evidence that taurine | | | | A diet providing normal quantities of these food |
| may be beneficial not just for the liver but for the | | | | groups will usually be adequate to prevent taurine |
| heart, kidneys and other organs which may | | | | deficiency, but not necessarily to secure the |
| become subject to inflammation or the | | | | maximum benefits for sufferers from the |
| accumulation of fluid or fat. | | | | conditions mentioned above. Those following a |
| Complementary medical practitioners are | | | | vegetarian diet will also have to take particular |
| particularly enthusiastic in using taurine | | | | care to combine foods correctly in order to obtain |
| supplements as therapy for conditions including | | | | an adequate supply of the essential amino acids; |
| hypertension, macular degeneration of the eyes, | | | | methionine especially. |
| congestive heart failure, fluid retention and | | | | Fortunately, however, there appear to be no |
| asthma. Although these conditions may appear | | | | toxicity issues with taurine supplementation, |
| diverse, if there is a common factor it is probably | | | | except for sufferers from excess stomach |
| an imbalance in body chemistry, particularly | | | | acidity or ulcers. So some nutritional therapists |
| perhaps the relative concentrations of potassium, | | | | commonly recommend therapeutic doses of up |
| magnesium and sodium within the cells. And there | | | | to 4,000 mg a day, particularly when treating the |
| is some good research evidence to suggest that | | | | heart and cardiovascular conditions detailed above, |
| taurine's effect in restoring proper fluid balance | | | | with no reports of ill-effects. It's worth noting, |
| may be very effective in reducing blood pressure | | | | however, that some minor gastro-intestinal |
| and tackling congestive heart failure. | | | | disturbances have been observed when even |
| When taken in conjunction with magnesium, | | | | higher doses have been applied. |
| taurine may help maintain good heart rhythm, and | | | | But as always, when considering any program of |
| it is also an anti-oxidant which helps protect | | | | supplementation, it needs to be remembered that |
| against atherosclerosis and the formation of | | | | the body is a holistically functioning organism, and |
| potentially dangerous blood clots. | | | | that no one nutrient can function 100% |
| As a fat soluble anti-oxidant, taurine is also | | | | effectively in the absence of an adequate supply |
| invaluable in protecting the light sensitive cells of | | | | of all the others. Taking individual supplements of |
| the retina, which contain a very high concentration | | | | amino acids can create an imbalance, and is not |
| of fats, from the free radical damage which can | | | | therefore recommended except in the short |
| lead to loss of vision through macular | | | | term, and is in any case best accompanied by a |
| degeneration. Taurine's role as an anti-oxidant has | | | | comprehensive multi-vitamin and multi-mineral |
| also been highlighted as a possible protector of | | | | regime. In the case of taurine, however, it is also |
| the lungs against free radical attack, with | | | | worth pointing out that its action seems to be |
| potentially particularly valuable implications for | | | | particularly dependent on good supplies of vitamin |
| sufferers from asthma. | | | | B6 and the essential mineral, zinc. |