Health Benefits of Taurine
Cardiovascular System
Taurine may help to prevent and treat Arrhythmias.
Taurine may help to prevent and treat Atherosclerosis.
Taurine may help to prevent abnormal Blood Clotting.
Taurine may help to prevent and treat Cardiomyopathy.
Taurine (1,000 - 4,000 mg per day) may improve cardiac and respiratory function
in Congestive Heart Failure patients.
Taurine concentrates in the Heart and
(5,000 - 6,000 mg per day of supplemental Taurine) may alleviate Ischemic Heart
Disease:
By normalizing Potassium flow into and out of Cardiac Muscle cells, Taurine
normalizes the electrical excitability of the Cell Membranes of Cardiac Muscle
and enhances the contractile strength of the Cardiac Muscle.
Taurine modulates the activity of cyclic AMP within Cardiac Muscle.
Persons who have experienced a Heart Attack often exhibit very low Taurine
levels subsequent to their Heart Attack (indicating that supplemental Taurine
may be highly advisable for persons who have experienced a Heart Attack).
Taurine may also help to prevent Heart Attack:
Taurine may help to prevent potentially lethal Arrhythmias after Heart Attacks.
Taurine is the most abundant and most important Amino Acid in the Heart (it is
present in the Heart in greater quantities than all other Amino Acids combined).
Taurine (6,000 mg per day) may lower Blood Pressure in Hypertension patients (by
suppressing Renin-Angiotensin) - it usually requires four weeks of daily
supplementation with Taurine before its Blood Pressure-lowering effects occur.
Following Ischemia, Taurine levels fall to approximately 33% of their
normal levels (indicating that supplemental Taurine may be useful for persons
affected by Ischemia).
Taurine may help to prevent Stroke.
Taurine may stabilize Cell Membranes and may help to prevent various toxins from
damaging Cell Membranes.
Digestive System
Taurine may facilitate the digestion of dietary Fats (due to it being a component of Bile).
Taurine may help to prevent the formation of (Cholesterol) Gallstones.
Taurine may inhibit the ability of Alcohol (ethanol) to damage the Gastric
Mucosa.
Taurine may reduce the severity of Pancreatitis.
Excretory System
Taurine may help to prevent or treat Diabetic Nephropathy.
Taurine concentrates in the cortex of the Kidneys.
Taurine may stimulate the production of Urine (i.e. it functions as a Diuretic).
Eyes/Vision
Taurine may help to prevent and reverse Age-Related Macular Degeneration (ARMD)
(Taurine concentrates in the Macula of the Retina, where it exerts Antioxidant
effects that may counteract ARMD).
Taurine may help to prevent (and may also possibly reverse) Cataracts by
inhibiting the glycosylation process in the Lens of the Eye that is an
underlying cause of Cataracts.
Taurine may alleviate the Eye Fatigue caused from working with Visual Display
Terminals.
Taurine concentrates in the Macula.
Retinitis Pigmentosa may occur as a result of Taurine deficiency.
Taurine may help to prevent (diabetic) Retinopathy.
Taurine enhances the function of the Rods and Cones of the Retina of the Eyes
which makes it essential for optimal Sight - Taurine deficiency can cause
degeneration of the Retina.
Immune System
Taurine may be useful for the treatment of Liver Cancer (it inhibits Lipid
Peroxidation in the Liver, enhances cellular defense mechanisms in the Liver and
protects the Liver against membrane disintegration in Liver Cancer patients).
Taurine may improve the function of Neutrophils - it may improve the ability of
Neutrophils to function as Phagocytes and may improve the ability of Neutrophils
to destroy Detrimental Bacteria.
High levels of Taurine are present in Neutrophils.
Taurine may reduce the Inflammation that occurs during Surgery.
Taurine concentrates in White Blood Cells.
Taurine is a potent Antioxidant.
Taurine may help to prevent Cholestasis (congested Liver).
Taurine may lower total serum Cholesterol levels (due to its role as a component
of Sodium Taurocholate):
Taurine may increase HDL Cholesterol levels.
Taurine lowers LDL Cholesterol levels.
Taurine lowers VLDL Cholesterol levels.
Taurine helps to prevent Cirrhosis and is of possible benefit to existing
Cirrhosis patients.
Taurine may inhibit Cross-Linking (especially the glycation form of
Cross-Linking).
Taurine may improve the condition of Diabetes Mellitus patients:
Taurine may alleviate Diabetes Mellitus Type 1 (by potentiating the effects of
Insulin).
Taurine may improve Insulin sensitivity in Diabetes Mellitus Type 2 patients.
Taurine may help to prevent or treat Diabetic Nephropathy in Diabetes Mellitus
patients.
Taurine may counteract the ability of intensive Exercise to damage the body’s
Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) and may increase the duration of Exercise that can
be undertaken before exhaustion occurs.
Taurine may help to prevent Alcohol-induced Fatty Liver.
Taurine may prevent/counteract Cardiovascular System damage in Hemochromatosis
patients.
Taurine may reduce Insulin Resistance (by improving Insulin sensitivity).
Taurine may reduce the Liver damage caused by Alcohol (ethanol), Paracetamol,
Carbon Tetrachloride and other toxins.
Taurine may increase Stamina.
Musculoskeletal System
Taurine concentrates in Skeletal Muscles.
Nervous System
Taurine may be a valuable adjunct in the treatment of Alzheimer's Disease - especially when supplemental Taurine is combined with Vitamin B2 and Zinc. Anxiety may occur as a result of Taurine deficiency and supplemental Taurine may alleviate Anxiety. The Hyperactivity associated with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) may occur as a result of Taurine deficiency. Autism patients may be deficient in Taurine. Taurine concentrates in the Brain and Central Nervous System (CNS) - Taurine is the second most abundant Amino Acid (after Glutamic Acid) in the Brain. Taurine may help to prevent Convulsions. Taurine may alleviate some cases of Depression. Epilepsy can occur as a result of Taurine deficiency and supplemental Taurine produces anti-convulsant effects in Epilepsy patients.
Taurine concentrates in the Hippocampus (where it plays a role in Memory by
increasing Histamine and Acetylcholine levels).
Taurine may alleviate Insomnia (by sedating the Central Nervous System).
Taurine may help to protect the Brain from the toxic effects of Hypoxia.
Taurine may improve Learning ability:
Taurine may inhibit Lead-induced impairment of Learning ability.
Taurine is involved in the maintenance of Memory (within the Brain Taurine
increases Histamine, GABA and Acetylcholine levels):
Taurine may inhibit Alcohol (ethanol)-induced Memory impairment.
Taurine may inhibit Lead-induced Memory impairment.
Taurine may improve Mood.
Taurine may stabilize the Myelin in the Myelin Sheaths of Neurons.
Within the Brain, Taurine functions as a Neurotransmitter (as an Inhibitory
Neurotransmitter).
Taurine concentrates in the Olfactory Bulb.
Taurine may alleviate some of the symptoms of Parkinson's Disease (by sedating the Central Nervous System).
Taurine concentrates in the Pineal Gland.
Taurine may alleviate (muscular) Tics.
Respiratory System
Taurine may be useful for the treatment of Asthma.
Taurine may protect the Lungs from the toxic effects of exposure to
environmental Ozone.
Sexual System
Taurine may alleviate some cases of Male Infertility (i.e. those cases that are
caused by impaired Sperm motility).
Water & Water Balance
Taurine may alleviate Edema (by stimulating the production of Urine).
Taurine may Enhance the Function of these Substances
Bile Salts
Taurine is an essential component of Bile (as the Bile Salt - Sodium
Taurocholate).
Enzymes
Taurine activates Aldehyde Dehydrogenase.
Taurine may counteract the ability of Homocysteine to reduce (extracellular)
Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) levels.
Hormones
Taurine may stimulate the production of Human Growth Hormone (hGH).
Taurine may potentiate the effects of Insulin.
Minerals
Taurine facilitates the transport of some Minerals into and out of the body's
Cells, including:
Neurotransmitters
Taurine may increase Acetylcholine levels within the Hippocampus.
Taurine may increase Histamine levels within the Hippocampus.
Peptides
Taurine may increase platelet Glutathione levels.
Second Messengers
Taurine modulates the activity of cyclic AMP (cAMP) in Cardiac Muscle.
Vitamins
Taurine may facilitate the digestion of Fat-Soluble Vitamins (due to it being an
essential component of Bile in the Bile Salt -Sodium Taurocholate - which is
essential for the digestion of Fat-Soluble Vitamins).
In-Tele-Health © 2005 (from
Hyperhealth Pro CD-ROM)
Taurine may Counteract these Potentially Toxic Substances
Aldehydes
Taurine may reduce the toxicity of Acetaldehyde.
This effect occurs from Taurine activating the Aldehyde Dehydrognease
enzyme that accelerates the clearance of Acetaldehyde, from the body.
Studies have shown that Taurine inhibits the rise in plasma Acetaldehyde
levels that normally result from Alcohol consumption.
Amino Acids
Taurine may counteract the ability of Homocysteine to reduce (extracellular)
Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) levels and Taurine may inhibit Homocysteine-induced
damage to the Heart.
Electromagnetic Radiation
Taurine (2,000 mg per day) may help to counteract the severe depletion of serum
Taurine that occurs as a result of Radiation Therapy
Environmental Toxins
Taurine may reduce the Liver damage caused by Carbon Tetrachloride.
Gases
Taurine may protect against the toxic effects of Ozone and may prevent
Ozone-induced damage to the Lungs.
Hormones
Taurine may inhibit the release of Adrenaline.
Minerals
Taurine may counteract the toxic effects of excessive Iron.
Taurine may facilitate the excretion of some Toxic Minerals:
Taurine may facilitate the excretion of Aluminum.
Taurine may facilitate the excretion of Arsenic.
Taurine may facilitate the excretion of Cadmium and minimizes the toxic effects
associated with Cadmium.
Taurine may reduce the toxic effects associated with Lead exposure (due to the
Antioxidant properties of Taurine).
Pharmaceutical Drugs
Taurine may reduce the Liver damage caused by Paracetamol.
Taurine may counteract the severe depletion of serum Taurine caused by the
Anti-Cancer Pharmaceutical Drugs utilized in Chemotherapy.