Taurine

Taurine is critical for nerve health and is responsible for clearing away and regenerating old tissue. It is especially important for the health of the eye and of the inner ear.

It acts as an antioxidant to protect cells, helps to move nutrients across cell membrane barriers, helps remove debris and toxins from the system.

Diabetic retinopathy. Taurine is protective against the complications of diabetes.5, 6

Macular degeneration. Low levels of taurine are associated with instances of AMD7 and macular dystrophies.8 Taurine protects against ultraviolet radiation, acts as an antioxidant to protect cells, helps move nutrients across cell membrane barriers, and helps remove debris and toxins from the system. 9

Night vision. Taurine is found in high concentration in the retina photoreceptor rods, ten times greater than any other part of the body1 that is derived from the central nervous system,10 and where there are two binding proteins specific to taurine. It plays an important role in night vision and is essential to photoreceptor integrity. 2, 3, 4, 11, 12, 13

Retinal ganglion degeneration. Taurine protects against retinal degeneration.14, 15 Research has shown that when taurine is removed from food, animals develop retinal degeneration; when taurine is replaced, the degeneration reverses.16, 17

Related conditions. Patients with diabetes have an increased need for taurine; taurine levels are lower in diabetics, and research indicates that the relationship between low levels of taurine, obesity, and diabetes is a close one.18 Taurine levels are also tied to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease19 and cardiovascular disease.20, 21, 22

Good food sources. Highest levels of taurine are found in shellfish, especially clams, scallops, and mussels, as well as dark poultry meat. Lower amounts of taurine are found in cheese.

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Footnotes

1. Taurine: Biological Update, Wright CE et al, Annual Review of Biochemistry, 1986
2. The role of taurine in osmotic, mechanical, and chemical protection of the retinal rod outer segments, Petrosian AM, Haroutounian JE, Advances in Experimental Medicine & Biology 1998
3. Taurine interactions with chick retinal membranes., Lopez-Colome AM et al, Journal of Neurochemistry, May, 1980
4. The Biology of Taurine: Methods and Mechanisms
5. Sarkar, P., Basak, P., Ghosh, S., Kundu, M., Sil, P.C. (2017). Prophylactic role of taurine and its derivatives against diabetes mellitus and its related complications. Food Chem Toxicol, Dec;110:109-121.
6. Yu, X., Xu, Z., Mi, M., Xu, H., Zhu, J., et al. (2008). Dietary taurine supplementation ameliorates diabetic retinopathy via anti-excitotoxicity of glutamate in streptozotocin-induced Sprague-Dawley rats. Neurochem Res, 33:500–7.
7. Birdsall, T.C. (1998). Therapeutic applications of taurine. Altern Med Rev, Apr;3(2):128-36.
8. Shpak, N.I., Naritsyna, N.I., Konovalova, N.V. (1989). Taufon and emoksipin in the combined treatment of sclerotic macular dystrophies. Oftalmol Zh, (8):463-5.
9. Ibid. Birdsall. (1998).
10. Gaucher, D., Arnault, E., Husson, Z., Froger, N., Dubus, E., et al. (2012). Taurine deficiency damages retinal neurones: cone photoreceptors and retinal ganglion cells. Amino Acids, Nov;43(5):1979-1993.
11. Wright, C.E. (1986). Taurine: Biological Update. Annu Rev Biochem,1986;55:427-53.
12. Petrosian, A.M., Haroutounian, J.E. (1998). The role of taurine in osmotic, mechanical, and chemical protection of the retinal rod outer segments. Adv Exp Med Biol,1998;442:407-13.
13. Lopez-Colome, A.M., et al. (1980). Taurine interactions with chick retinal membranes. J Neurochem, May;34(5):1047-52.
14. Lombardini, J.B. (1991). Taurine: retinal function. Brain Res Brain Res Rev, May-Aug;16(2):151-69.
15. Petrosian, A.M., Haroutounian, J.E. (1998). The role of taurine in osmotic, mechanical, and chemical protection of the retinal rod outer segments, Adv Exp Med Biol, 442:407-13.
16. Froger, N., Cadetti, L., Lorach, H., Martins, J., Bemelmans, A.P., et al. (2012). Taurine provides neuroprotection against retinal ganglion cell degeneration. PLoS One,2012;7(10):342017.
17. Imaki, H., Moretz, R., Wisniewski, H., Neuringer, M., Sturman, J. (1987). Retinal degeneration in 3-month-old rhesus monkey infants fed a taurine-free human infant formula. J Neurosci Res, 18(4):602-14.
18. Franconi, F., Bennardini, F., Mattana, A., Miceli, M., Ciuti, M., et al. (1995). Plasma and platelet taurine are reduced in subjects with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus: effects of taurine supplementation. Am J Clin Nutr, May;61(5):1115-9.
19. Miyazak, T., Boucarel, B., Ikegami, T., Honda, A., Matsuzaki, Y. (2009). The protective effect of taurine against hepatic damage in a model of liver disease and hepatic stellate cells, Adv Exp Medi Biol, 2009;643:293-303.
20. Murakami S., Taurine and atherosclerosis. Amino Acids. Jan;46(1):73-80.
21. Ibid. Birdsall. 1998.
22. Xu, Y.J., Arneja, A.S., Tappia, P.S., Dhalla, N.S. (2008). The potential health benefits of taurine in cardiovascular disease. Exp Clin Cardiol, Summer;13(2):57-65.