What is Taurine?
Taurine is classified as a nonprotein, conditionally essential amino acid. With the assistance of pyridoxine, humans may produce sulfur-containing taurine from the amino acid cysteine. Its dietary essentiality, nevertheless, is witnessed in newborn diets, as it is critical for normal retinal and brain development; and in adults whom are either cysteine or vitamin B6 deficient. Taurine is abundant in nearly all mammalian protein. Higher sources of this amino acid include egg, fish, meat, and milk products. [2] Vegetable proteins contain trace amounts of taurine. This may be of considerable relevance to vegetarians, as these persons may ingest insufficient amounts of the amino acid derivative. Because of taurine’s abundance in the average adult diet, a specific food graph has been omitted from this section. Of note, there are no known nutrient interactions with dietary or supplementary taurine. Uses Among taurine’s most important benefits is its ability to be used as a therapeutic agent
Taurine is an amino sulfonic acid that is found in high levels in the skeletal and heart muscles of humans, as well as in white blood cells, and the central nervous system. It is also found in some plants, such as seaweed, fungi and bacteria. Taurine is a main ingredient in bile and aids in the digestion of fats and the absorption of vitamins that are fat soluble. It is a necessary acid that our body produces naturally. Austrian scientists Friedrich Tiedermann and Leopold Gmelin first identified taurine in 1827 in the bile of an ox. This is where the name originates—taurine comes from the Latin word for bull, Taurus. While we know for sure that taurine aids in the breakdown of fats and absorption of vitamins, there are many other claims that have been made concerning its usefulness in the human body. In infants and some animals, specifically cats, taurine is a requirement for eye health and development. Premature infants who cannot naturally produce taurine must have formula with tauri
Caffeine and taurine are not similar substances. Caffeine is a stimulant, and taurine is an amino acid. Taurine supports neurological development and helps regulate the level of water and mineral salts in the blood. Taurine is also thought to have antioxidant properties. Taurine is found naturally in meat, fish and breast milk, and it’s commonly available as a dietary supplement. Some studies suggest that taurine supplementation may improve athletic performance, which may explain why taurine is used in many energy drinks. Other studies suggest that taurine and caffeine act together to improve athletic and perhaps even mental performance, although this finding remains controversial. Up to 3,000 milligrams of supplemental taurine a day is considered safe. Any excess taurine is simply excreted by the kidneys. Moderation is important, however. Little is known about the effects of heavy or long-term taurine use. It’s also important to remember that other ingredients in energy drinks, such a
