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Taurine: An Amino Acid Crucial for Health and Aging

taurineTaurine is an amino acid that your body manufactures and obtains from food. Crucial to health, taurine has many benefits for the eyes, heart, and brain. It is also an antioxidant that reduces inflammation and bad cholesterol levels. However, seniors often have taurine levels that are 80% lower than younger people.1 2

Night vision, eye health, cardiovascular fitness, brain health, the gastrointestinal system, immunity, bones, and diabetes are all linked to taurine.3 This article covers the benefits of this amino acid and how to check your taurine levels. It also discusses ways to get extra taurine if needed.

Night Vision Depends on Taurine

Are you able to see properly at night? You have taurine to thank. The rod cells in your eyes have one of the highest concentrations of taurine in your body.4 Two proteins in these night vision photoreceptor cells bind to taurine specifically. The integrity of the photoreceptors in your eyes depends on taurine.5

Taurine and Eye Diseases

Taurine is essential to the body’s functioning. Therefore, low taurine levels may lead to eye diseases. Researchers have found relationships between low taurine levels in the body and Macular Degeneration.6 Other macular dystrophies, such as a genetic disorder called “Best disease,” stabilized in one study when the patients used special taurine drops.7

Blue light is notoriously damaging to the eyes. Oxidative stress is blamed for the onset and escalation of many eye diseases. And the build-up of microscopic debris in the eyes can cause damage. Taurine provides protection against blue light and oxidative stress. This amino acid also helps clean the eyes, and assists with moving nutrients into the eyes.8

Glaucoma is an especially terrifying eye disease, as symptoms can go unnoticed until the optic nerve is seriously damaged. Taurine helps protect nerves, including the optic nerve.

Protection from Retinal Disease

Taurine protects the eye from retinal degeneration.9 10 While adults can make taurine, infants cannot. Breast milk and infant formula are sources for babies. Studies have demonstrated that removing this amino acid from the diets of mammals results in retinal degeneration. Bringing it back into the diet reverses the damage.11 12

Additional research has demonstrated that taurine deficiency causes retinal degeneration. And, supplementing a deficiency could prevent or stabilize retinal changes. 13 14

In cats and dogs, retinal degeneration is often considered to be a genetic condition with few treatment options. However, a study associated taurine deficiency and excess Vitamin A in cats with retinal degeneration.15

Brain Health

Scientists are well aware of taurine’s role in proper cognitive function.16 For example, an animal study on Alzheimer’s disease found that taurine improved cognitive impairment.17

Diabetes and Taurine

Research has found that taurine levels are lower in patients with diabetes. This disease appears to increase the body’s need for taurine. Indeed, studies are pointing toward a close relationship between obesity, low taurine, and diabetes. 18 Some researchers found supplementation helps protect against diabetic complications. 19 20

The Heart, Cholesterol, and Cardiovascular Disease

Keeping the arteries in good working order is important for preventing heart disease. Taurine affects the arteries by helping to keep them flexible, and supporting the blood vessel lining. 21 22 This amino acid also helps keep the heart muscle strong. 23

Heart disease and taurine levels in the body are closely linked. 24 Supplementing can improve cholesterol and lipid scores, help manage weight, and regulate norepinephrine, a stress hormone. 25

How to Get Enough Taurine

Your body manufactures taurine. And, you can get additional taurine from a proper diet. Shellfish, especially scallops, mussels, and clams, have the highest levels. The dark meat of turkey and chicken, turkey bologna, brewer’s yeast, and sea algae are all high in taurine.

A doctor can test your taurine levels. If the levels are low, discuss ways to increase them. Nutrition from whole foods is the best place to start. While energy drinks often contain taurine, they have many other ingredients that can be harmful. Taking individual amino enzymes may create other imbalances; therefore, consider taking a broad-spectrum supplement.

Suggested Supplements

Advanced Eye & Vision Support Formula (whole food) 60 vcaps – whole food, organic, GMO free formula for eye and overall health.

Dr. Grossman’s Meso Plus Retinal Support and Computer Eye Strain Formula with Astaxanthin 90 vcaps – also includes taurine, lutein, zeaxanthin and mesozeaxanthin.

Taurine Extra Strength 1000 mg 100 vcaps

Dr. Grossman’s Blood Vessel Control Formula 2oz – wild-crafted, herbal formula. Helps reduce the risk of unwanted blood vessel growth and reduces inflammation.

Dr. Grossman’s Vitamin C Plant-Based Formula – 60 caps

Dr. Grossman’s Whole Food Organic Superfood Multi-Vitamin 120 Vcaps

OmegaGenics™ EPA-DHA 720 Lemon 120 gels – also available in 240 gelcaps or liquid.

Supplement Packages – All Packages Are Discounted 10%

Advanced Eye & Vision Support & Meso Plus Formula with Astaxanthin (3-mo. Combo)

Dr. Grossman’s Advanced Eye and Dr. G’s Whole Food Superfood Multi1 20 Vcap Combo – 2 months supply

Recommended Books

Natural Eye Care: Your Guide to Healthy Vision and Healing

Natural Brain Support: Your Guide to Preventing and Treating Alzheimer’s, Dementia, and Other Related Diseases Naturally

Natural Parkinson’s Support: Your Guide to Preventing and Managing Parkinson’s

  1. Ito T, Yoshikawa N, Inui T, et al. Tissue depletion of taurine accelerates skeletal muscle senescence and leads to early death in mice. PLoS One. 2014;9(9):e107409 ↩
  2. Singh P, Gollapalli K, Mangiola S, et al. Taurine deficiency as a driver of aging. Science. 2023 Jun 9;380(6649):eabn9257. ↩
  3. Ibid. Science. 2023 Jun 9;380(6649):eabn9257 ↩
  4. 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. ↩
  5. 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. ↩
  6. Birdsall, T.C. (1998). Therapeutic applications of taurine. Altern Med Rev, Apr;3(2):128-36. ↩
  7. 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. ↩
  8. Ibid. Birdsall. (1998). ↩
  9. Lombardini, J.B. (1991). Taurine: retinal function. Brain Res Brain Res Rev, May-Aug;16(2):151-69. ↩
  10. 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. ↩
  11. 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. ↩
  12. 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. ↩
  13. 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 ↩
  14. Lombardini, J.B. (1991). Taurine: retinal function. Brain Res Brain Res Rev, May-Aug;16(2):151-69 ↩
  15. Hayes, K.C. (1982). Nutritional Problems in Cats: Taurine Deficiency and Vitamin A Excess. Can Vet J, Jan;23(1):2-5. ↩
  16. Chen C, Xia s, He J, Lu G, Xie Z, et al. (2019). Roles of taurine in cognitive function of physiology, pathology, and toxication. Life Sci. Aug 15;231:116584 ↩
  17. Jang H, Lee S, Choi SL, Kim HY, Baek S, Kim Y. (2017). Taurine Directly Binds to Oligomeric Amyloid-B and Recovers Cognitive Deficits in Alzheimer Model Mice. Adv Exp Med Biol. 2017;975 Pt 1:233-241. ↩
  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. 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. ↩
  20. 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. ↩
  21. Moloney MA, Casey RG, O’Donnell DH, Fitzgerald P, Thompson C, et al. (2010). Two weeks taurine supplementation reverses endothelial dysfunction in young male type 1 diabetics. Diab Vasc Dis Res. Oct;7(4):300 ↩
  22. Ra SG, Choi Y, Akazawa N, Ohmori H, Maeda S. (2016). Taurine supplementation attenuates delayed increase in exercise-induced arterial stiffness. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. Jun;41(6):618-23. ↩
  23. Wu JY, Schaffer SW, Azuma J. (2009). Taurine – a wonder molecule. Proceedings of the 17th International Taurine Conference. J Biomed Sci. 2010;17 Suppl 1:S2. ↩
  24. Ibid. Birdsall. 1998. ↩
  25. Bae M, Ahmed K, Yim JE. Beneficial Effects of Taurine on Metabolic Parameters in Animals and Humans. J Obes Metab Syndr. 2022 Jun 30;31(2):134-46 ↩