Taurine

Product details:

Proprietary blend:Taurine
Each bottle contains: 120 hypoallergenic capsules (750 mg)
Suggested Usage: As a dietary supplement, take 2-3 capsules each time, two times a day, or as suggested by a healthcare provider. Sensitive individuals may want to take with food.

Additional Information:

Taurine is an amino acid that plays a myriad of roles in promoting health. Dietary sources of taurine are meat and seafood, especially shellfish such as muscle, clams and oysters. Because taurine is essential for heart function, immune function, glucose metabolism, and nervous system health, low levels of taurine should be avoided and corrected with dietary changes and/or supplementation.

Taurine is one of the most important nutrients for promoting heart health. Taurine strengthens the heart muscle and plays a major role in regulating the heart's contractility (1). Taurine also acts as a natural diuretic by keeping potassium and magnesium inside cells and keeping excess sodium out. Unlike prescription diuretics, taurine is not a cellular poison and it does not act against the kidneys. In fact, taurine has been proposed for treatment of kidney disorders (2). By encouraging the excretion of excess fluid, taurine helps to alleviate pressure on the blood vessels. Additionally, taurine increases circulation and stabilizes blood pressure by dampening the sympathetic nervous system, which when overactive constricts blood vessels.

Taurine helps stabilize blood sugar in both Type I and Type II diabetes. Taurine appears to do this by potentiating the activity of the insulin receptor. For those with Type I diabetes, a daily dose 1.5 grams keeps blood sugar lower over the long term and reduces abnormal platelet activity (3). For those with Type II diabetes, taurine improves cellular sensitivity to insulin. Diabetics should use taurine under medical supervision, as taurine may reduce the need for blood sugar lowering medication.

Taurine's calming effects on cell membranes make it useful in the management of epilepsy (4). Taurine may offer benefit for those with macular degeneration. A deficiency of taurine increases damage to the retinas of both animals and human (5).To break down fats, the body needs bile. Bile is made in the liver with the help of glycine or taurine. With optimal taurine intake, bile remains in a liquid state and is less likely to form gallstones. Additionally, people with cystic fibrosis can digest fats more successfully when taking taurine supplements (6).

Few adverse reactions are associated with taurine supplementation. Most people tolerate between 1 and 4 grams per day well. However, those with ulcers should use taurine carefully because taurine may increase the secretion of stomach acid. If you have a medical condition, please take taurine with the guidance of your health care practitioner, as taurine may change or reduce your need for certain medications.

References
1. Chapman RA, Suleiman MS, Earm YE. Taurine and the heart. Cardiovasc Res 1993;27(3):358-63.
2. Trachtman. Amino Acids. 1996;11:1-13.
3. Franconi F, Bennardini F, Mattana A, et al. Plasma and platelet taurine are reduced in subjects with insulin- dependent diabetes mellitus: effects of taurinesupplementation. Am J Clin Nutr 1995;61(5):1115-9.
4. Collins BW, Goodman HO, Swanton CH, Remy CN. Plasma and urinary taurine in epilepsy. Clin Chem 1988;34(4):671-5.
5. Lombardini JB. Taurine: retinal function. Brain Res Brain Res Rev 1991;16(2):151-69.
6. Smith LJ, Lacaille F, Lepage G, Ronco N, Lamarre A, Roy CC. Taurine decreases fecal fatty acid and sterol excretion in cystic fibrosis. A randomized doubleblindtrial. Am J Dis Child 1991;145(12):1401-4.