Taurine: benefits, dosage, contraindications
Scientific name(s)
2-aminoethanesulfonic acid
Family or group:
Amino acids
Indications
Scoring methodology
EFSA approval.
Congestive heart failure ✪✪✪✪✪
In cases of heart failure, taurine improves left ventricular function and reduces heart failure symptoms compared with placebo or coenzyme Q10. Furthermore, taking 500 mg of taurine three times a day for 2 weeks appears to improve exercise capacity in heart failure patients compared with placebo. The improvement in symptoms appears to be maintained as long as taurine intake is continued, up to one year.
Posologie
Oral
2 - 6 g
Adults
Hepatitis ✪✪✪✪✪
Clinical studies have shown that oral taurine supplementation improves liver function compared with placebo in patients with acute and chronic hepatitis. It can be administered at a daily dose of 1.5 to 4 g for a minimum duration of 3 months. nn
Posologie
Orally
1.5 - 4 g
3 - months
Chemotherapy ✪✪✪✪✪
Taurine is used to relieve nausea and vomiting after six hours of chemotherapy in the context of acute lymphoblastic leukemia.nnSome clinical studies have shown that taking taurine has a protective effect against chemotherapy-induced renal and hepatic toxicity. A reduction in overall fatigue has also been observed.nn
Posologie
Orally
1 g
6 - months
Adults
Athletic performance ✪✪✪✪✪
Some evidence from animal research suggests that the amount of taurine in muscle tissue may affect exercise performance. The mechanism for this activity may involve a reduction in oxidative stress, an increased release of calcium from the sarcoplasmic reticulum (the smooth endoplasmic reticulum of muscle cells) into the muscle interstitial space, and stabilization and hyperexcitability of the cell membrane. Further research suggests that taurine may influence the amount of energy provided by the glycolytic pathway during high-intensity exercise by reducing the accumulation of lactate in the blood during exercise and by improving anaerobic capacity. Clinical evidence regarding the effects of taurine on athletic performance is conflicting. A meta-analysis of seven small clinical trials shows that taking taurine at 1 to 6 grams per day for up to 2 weeks slightly improves endurance compared with control. In addition, preliminary evidence in male cyclists shows that taking taurine at 50 mg/kg 2 hours before a cycling test increases time to exhaustion by about 10% compared with placebo. However, other clinical studies conducted in athletes show that taking taurine before endurance exercise does not improve endurance or aerobic capacity compared with placebo. Overall, taurine may modestly improve endurance, but it is not clear which population is most likely to benefit.
Posologie
Oral
1 - 6 g
2 - weeks
Adults
Acute Taurine Supplementation Enhances Thermoregulation and Endurance Cycling Performance in the Heat
The Effects of an Oral Taurine Dose and Supplementation Period on Endurance Exercise Performance in Humans: A Meta-Analysis
Detoxification ✪✪✪✪✪
The anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, cytoprotective, osmoregulatory and membrane-stabilizing effects of taurine may contribute to its protective effects against drug toxicity and other compounds.
Posologie
Orally
2 - 3 g
Properties
Neurological
Taurine is absorbed into synaptosomes (the terminal part of a synapse) via a high-affinity uptake system. At the presynaptic level, taurine can inhibit calcium channels, open chloride channels, and inhibit the release of excitatory neurotransmitters. It can also reduce postsynaptic depolarization by increasing potassium efflux. Ultimately, taurine appears to reduce excitatory transmission. Thus, taurine can act as an inhibitory neurotransmitter (like GABA and glycine), which explains its effect in reducing nausea and vomiting. nnIn addition, taurine has an antiepileptic effect, the probable mechanisms of which are modulation of calcium homeostasis, prevention of glutamate-induced neuronal excitotoxicity, or activation of GABA-A receptors.nn
Anti-inflammatory
Taurine has an anti-inflammatory effect in vivo and in vitro by inhibiting the production of pro-inflammatory interleukins (IL-1, IL-6).nnOther studies in humans have shown that taurine reduces inflammatory mediators such as TNF-alpha (tumor necrosis factor), which gives it a protective and regenerative effect on damaged tissues. nn
Antioxidant
Taurine contains sulfur, which is an important constituent in the formation of glutathione (an antioxidant tripeptide). Studies on arsenic-induced oxidative stress have shown that taurine has direct antioxidant activity by scavenging free radicals, and indirect activity by stabilizing membrane permeability. Other human studies have shown that taurine improves oxidative stress in subjects treated with a lipid-lowering agent (simvastatin alone or combined with ezetimibe), and the proposed mechanism is the reduction of superoxide anions at the respiratory chain. nn
Usages associés
Cardiovascular
Taurine is a preventive factor for various cardiovascular conditions, including coronary artery disease, cardiac remodeling, and ischemic heart disease, due to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. On the other hand, some studies have shown that it increases blood flow but without a significant influence on blood pressure (in diabetic subjects and subjects with heart disease). Other clinical research has shown that taurine can decrease plasma epinephrine levels (a hormone from the adrenal gland, secreted in response to stressful stimuli and contributing to the development of essential hypertension) in patients with borderline essential hypertension.
Usages associés
Depurative
The anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, cytoprotective, osmoregulatory, and membrane-stabilizing effects of taurine may contribute to its protective effects against drug toxicity and other compounds.
Usages associés
Safe dosage
Adult: 2 g - 3 g
Proposed doses of taurine are usually 2 to 3 g per day. However, it has also been used safely at a higher dose (6 g/day) for 4 weeks.
Interactions
Médicaments
Antihypertensive drugs: moderate interaction
Clinical evidence suggests that taurine reduces systolic and diastolic blood pressure in patients with borderline hypertension. Theoretically, taurine may increase the risk of low blood pressure when used in combination with antihypertensive drugs.
Lithium: moderate interaction
Taurine can reduce urinary excretion and increase lithium levels.
Precautions
Pregnancy: avoid
Avoid use due to lack of reliable and sufficient information.
Bipolar disorder: use with caution
Excessive consumption of taurine may trigger a relapse of bipolar disorder. Indeed, a case has been reported of a patient with previously well-controlled bipolar disorder who developed manic symptoms after consuming several cans of energy drinks containing taurine, caffeine, inositol and other ingredients. It is unknown whether this relapse is related to taurine or to another ingredient or to the combination of different ingredients.
Breastfeeding: avoid
Avoid use due to lack of reliable and sufficient information.
