Taurine is one of those perhaps lesser known amino acids
which are known to medicine as "non-essential". But
"non-essential" in this context simply means that it is not
essential to ensure a daily intake from diet, because the
compound can be manufactured by the body, albeit in fairly
small quantities. It should not be taken as lessening the
importance of taurine or the other non-essential amino
acids in any way.
Much publicity has recently been given to taurine as a way
of preventing hangovers and slowing or even reversing the
liver damage caused by long term excess alcohol
consumption. So taurine is commonly added with caffeine to
the energy drinks increasingly sold as mixers to take with
alcoholic drinks. Whilst it has to be said that the
"jury's still out" on some of the wilder claims made in
this regard, there is evidence that taurine may be
beneficial not just for the liver but for the heart,
kidneys and other organs which may become subject to
inflammation or the accumulation of fluid or fat.
Complementary medical practitioners are particularly
enthusiastic in using taurine supplements as therapy for
conditions including hypertension, macular degeneration of
the eyes, congestive heart failure, fluid retention and
asthma. Although these conditions may appear diverse, if
there is a common factor it is probably an imbalance in
body chemistry, particularly perhaps the relative
concentrations of potassium, magnesium and sodium within
the cells. And there is some good research evidence to
suggest that taurine's effect in restoring proper fluid
balance may be very effective in reducing blood pressure
and tackling congestive heart failure.
When taken in conjunction with magnesium, taurine may help
maintain good heart rhythm, and it is also an anti-oxidant
which helps protect against atherosclerosis and the
formation of potentially dangerous blood clots.
As a fat soluble anti-oxidant, taurine is also invaluable
in protecting the light sensitive cells of the retina,
which contain a very high concentration of fats, from the
free radical damage which can lead to loss of vision
through macular degeneration. Taurine's role as an
anti-oxidant has also been highlighted as a possible
protector of the lungs against free radical attack, with
potentially particularly valuable implications for
sufferers from asthma.
Finally, although it remains a matter of some controversy,
taurine's role in balancing cell chemistry is also believed
by some nutritionists to protect against epileptic and
other types of brain seizure. It is also found in very
high concentrations in the white blood cells which are the
key to a healthy immune system, and is believed to help
stabilise blood sugar levels.
To manufacture sufficient taurine within the body a good
supply of the essential amino acids is required,
particularly methionine. By far the best sources of these
are the so-called "first-class" protein foods, called
first-class precisely because they contain all of the
essential amino acids. Meat, poultry, fish and dairy
products are all within this group, and for the purposes of
taurine, shellfish are a particularly rich source.
A diet providing normal quantities of these food groups
will usually be adequate to prevent taurine deficiency, but
not necessarily to secure the maximum benefits for
sufferers from the conditions mentioned above. Those
following a vegetarian diet will also have to take
particular care to combine foods correctly in order to
obtain an adequate supply of the essential amino acids;
methionine especially.
Fortunately, however, there appear to be no toxicity issues
with taurine supplementation, except for sufferers from
excess stomach acidity or ulcers. So some nutritional
therapists commonly recommend therapeutic doses of up to
4,000 mg a day, particularly when treating the heart and
cardiovascular conditions detailed above, with no reports
of ill-effects. It's worth noting, however, that some
minor gastro-intestinal disturbances have been observed
when even higher doses have been applied.
But as always, when considering any program of
supplementation, it needs to be remembered that the body is
a holistically functioning organism, and that no one
nutrient can function 100% effectively in the absence of an
adequate supply of all the others. Taking individual
supplements of amino acids can create an imbalance, and is
not therefore recommended except in the short term, and is
in any case best accompanied by a comprehensive
multi-vitamin and multi'mineral regime. In the case of
taurine, however, it is also worth pointing out that its
action seems to be particularly dependent on good supplies
of vitamin B6 and the essential mineral, zinc.
----------------------------------------------------
Steve Smith is a freelance copywriter specialising in
direct marketing and with a particular interest in health
products. Find out more at
http://www.sisyphuspublicationsonline.com/LiquidNutrition/In
formation.htm
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