What is taurine?

Taurine, also known as α-aminoethanesulfonic acid, is a sulfur-containing non-protein amino acid. It was first discovered in ox bile in 1827. Abundantly found in most human organs and tissues, it helps maintain the body's normal physiological functions.

I. What are the benefits of taurine to the various functions of the human body?

Broadly speaking, taurine serves two primary purposes: promoting the growth and development of infants, and regulating, protecting and sustaining normal physiological functions in adults.

1. Protects the myocardium

The heart contains the highest level of taurine, which strengthens cardiac function by protecting the myocardium. In patients with coronary heart disease, coronary arteriosclerosis and narrowed vascular lumens often cause severe insufficient blood supply to the heart muscle, leading to myocardial damage. By regulating calcium ion concentrations, taurine can effectively protect the myocardium and restore its normal function.

2. Protects the gastrointestinal tract

In the gastrointestinal tract, taurine binds to toxic substances produced by Helicobacter pylori, thereby reducing irritation and relieving discomfort.

3. Reduces cholesterol

In the liver, cholesterol is converted into bile acids. These bile acids combine with taurine to form complexes, which are excreted into the small intestine along with bile, hence lowering cholesterol levels.

4. Lowers blood sugar

It protects pancreatic cells, exerts a mild blood sugar-lowering effect and alleviates insulin resistance.

5. Reduces blood pressure

It plays a vital role in the central nervous system as both a neurotransmitter and neuromodulator. It helps prevent blood pressure spikes, calms excessive nerve excitation, and can mitigate epileptic seizures to a certain extent.

6. Protects eyesight

The eyes are rich in taurine. It can markedly boost the repairing capacity of the cornea, improve retinal function, and significantly enhance night vision.

In short, taurine has multifaceted benefits: it protects the heart, lowers blood pressure, blood lipids and blood sugar, alleviates fatty liver, boosts immunity, relieves fatigue, prevents arteriosclerosis, and offers many other health effects.

However, proper supplemental intake of taurine as a nutrient is beneficial, yet it must not be regarded as medication for lowering blood pressure or blood lipids.

II. How can we take in taurine?

The human body can synthesize taurine from sulfur-containing amino acids through decarboxylation, oxidation and other metabolic processes. Meanwhile, taurine can also be supplemented by eating foods rich in this nutrient, so taurine deficiency is uncommon among ordinary people. Nevertheless, newborns, premature infants, the elderly and frail individuals, patients and people with weakened immune systems have very limited capacity to produce taurine internally, so they need appropriate supplementary intake.

Aquatic products such as fish and shellfish, as well as animal offal, are high in taurine. However, these foods are not suitable for infants and toddlers. Besides, diets high in fat and protein are inadvisable for the elderly and people in poor health.

Studies have shown that taurine is also present in the milk of mammals. Human milk contains a relatively high level of taurine (4.5–6.3 mg/100g), while cow's milk has a much lower concentration (0.4–0.7 mg/100g). Mare's milk boasts an exceptionally high taurine content of 13.27 mg/100g. In addition, fresh mare's milk features low fat and protein levels, making it easy to digest and absorb. It can serve as one ideal source of taurine supplementation for the elderly and physically weak people.