Taurine - (1999) diabetic retinopathy

research

Learn more about diabetic retinopathy.

The condition diabetic retinopathy results because having diabetes increases the demands on the eye for various nutrients. The retina's need for taurine is one of the nutrients involved. Glucose rapidly and specifically decreases taurine levels in retina cells.

Giving patients taurine supplements not only helps manage diabetic retinopathy, but taurine also appears to lessen the development of "sugar cataracts" because of its anti-oxidant qualities.

Published: Stevens et al, Am J Physiol 1999 Oct;277(4 Pt 1):E760-E771

Reference also: Malone JI, Benford SA, Malone J Jr, Diabetes Complications