Taurine
Scientific names: 2-Aminoethane sulfonic acid
Alternate names: 2-Aminoethanesulfonic Acid, 2-Aminoethylsulfonic Acid, Acide Aminoéthylsulfonique, Acide Kétoisocaproïque de Taurine, Acid Aminoethanesulfonate, Aminoethanesulfonate, Aminoéthylsulfonique, Dibicor, Éthyl Ester de Taurine, L-Taurine, Taurina, Taurine Ethyl Ester, Taurine Ketoisocaproic Acid
Actions: Antidiabetic, Antiemetic, Antiepileptic, Antifibrotic, Antihypertensive, Anti-inflammatory, Antineoplastic effect, Anti-nociceptive, Antioxidant, Antitoxin, Antiulcer, Athletic performance enhancement, Cardiovascular, Cognitive, GABA modulating, Gallstone, Hormonal, Hypersensitivity, Lipid metabolism, Muscle Soreness
Background
Taurine is a type of chemical called an amino sulfonic acid. It occurs naturally in the body. The best food sources are meat, fish, and eggs.
Taurine has important functions in the heart and brain. It helps support nerve growth. It might also benefit people with heart failure by lowering blood pressure and calming the nervous system. This might help prevent heart failure from becoming worse.
People take taurine for congestive heart failure (CHF) and swelling of the liver (hepatitis). It is also used for obesity, athletic performance, fatigue, diabetes, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
Don't confuse taurine with homotaurine. These are not the same.
Taurine has important functions in the heart and brain. It helps support nerve growth. It might also benefit people with heart failure by lowering blood pressure and calming the nervous system. This might help prevent heart failure from becoming worse.
People take taurine for congestive heart failure (CHF) and swelling of the liver (hepatitis). It is also used for obesity, athletic performance, fatigue, diabetes, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
Don't confuse taurine with homotaurine. These are not the same.
Safety Safety definitions
When taken by mouth: Taurine is commonly consumed in foods. It is possibly safe when used as a medicine for up to 3 months.
Children: Taurine is commonly consumed in foods. It is possibly safe when taken by mouth as medicine for up to 12 weeks.
Special Precautions & Warnings:
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Taurine is commonly consumed in foods. There isn't enough reliable information to know if taurine is safe to use as a medicine when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and stick to food amounts.Children: Taurine is commonly consumed in foods. It is possibly safe when taken by mouth as medicine for up to 12 weeks.
Effectiveness
Natural Medicines rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate.
Possibly effective Effectiveness definitions
- Heart failure and fluid build up in the body (congestive heart failure or CHF). Taking taurine by mouth seems to improve heart function, reduce symptoms, and increase the ability to exercise in people with CHF.
- Swelling (inflammation) of the liver (hepatitis). Taking taurine by mouth might improve liver function in people with hepatitis.
Possibly ineffective Effectiveness definitions
- Obesity. Taking taurine by mouth doesn't seem to reduce body weight in people who are overweight or obese.
Dosing & administration
Taurine is found in foods such as meat, seafood, and eggs. The typical Western diet includes 40-400 mg of taurine daily. It's also a common ingredient in energy drinks.
As medicine, taurine has most often been used by adults in doses of 6 grams by mouth daily for up to one year. Speak with a healthcare provider to find out what dose might be best for a specific condition.
As medicine, taurine has most often been used by adults in doses of 6 grams by mouth daily for up to one year. Speak with a healthcare provider to find out what dose might be best for a specific condition.
Interactions with pharmaceuticals
Lithium
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Taurine might slow down how quickly lithium is flushed out of the body. This could increase levels of lithium that stay in the body. Your healthcare provider might need to lower your dose of lithium.
Medications for high blood pressure (Antihypertensive drugs)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Taurine might lower blood pressure. Taking taurine along with medications that lower blood pressure might cause blood pressure to go too low. Monitor your blood pressure closely.
Interactions with herbs & supplements
Herbs and supplements that might lower blood pressure: Taurine might lower blood pressure. Taking it with other supplements that have the same effect might cause blood pressure to drop too much. Examples of supplements with this effect include andrographis, casein peptides, L-arginine, niacin, and stinging nettle.
Interactions with foods
Avoid drinking alcohol while taking taurine supplements or energy drinks that contain taurine. Taurine might increase how much alcohol you want to drink, which increases the risk of alcohol-related side effects.
Products
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Per 8.7 g (Citrus):
Per 5 g:
- Taurine 1 g
- Total Magnesium 400 mg
- Magnesium amino acid chelate 1.7 g equiv. magnesium 343 mg
- Magnesium orotate dihydrate 106 mg equiv. magnesium 7 mg
- Magnesium glycinate dihydrate 427.4 mg equiv. magnesium 50 mg
- Calcium ascorbate dihydrate (Vitamin C) 243.5 mg equiv. ascorbic acid 200 mg equiv. calcium 22.9 mg
- Glutamine 500 mg
- Potassium aspartate 386.5 mg equiv. potassium 80 mg
Per 6 g (Lemon Lime):
- Taurine 500 mg
- Magnesium glycinate dihydrate 2225 mg equiv. magnesium 250 mg
- Magnesium citrate 465 mg equiv. magnesium 70 mg
- L-glutamine 500 mg
- Levocarnitine tartrate (L-carnitine) 36.7 mg equiv. levocarnitine 25 mg
- Thiamine hydrochloride (Vitamin B1) 25 mg equiv. thiamine 22.3 mg
- Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) 5 mg
- Nicotinamide (Vitamin B3) 20 mg
- Calcium pantothenate (Vitamin B5) 30 mg equiv. pantothenic acid 27.6 mg
- Pyridoxine hydrochloride (Vitamin B6) 30 mg equiv. pyridoxine 24.6 mg
- Folic acid 150 μg
- Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12) 200 μg
- Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) 130 mg
- Chromium picolinate 402 μg equiv. chromium 50 μg
- Potassium citrate 138 mg equiv. potassium 50 mg
- Selenomethionine 62 μg equiv. selenium 25 μg
- Zinc amino acid chelate 25 mg equiv. zinc 5 mg
- Stevia rebaubiana
Per 5.5 g (Lemon Lime Zing):
- Taurine 500 mg
- Magnesium glycinate 2.24 g equiv. magnesium 300 mg
- Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) 125 mg
- Thiamine hydrochloride (Vitamin B1) 25 mg equiv. thiamine 19.7 mg
- Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) 5 mg
- Nicotinamide (Vitamin B3) 25 mg
- Calcium pantothenate (Vitamin B5) 25 mg equiv. pantothenic acid 22.9 mg
- Pyridoxine hydrochloride (Vitamin B6) 25 mg equiv. pyridoxine 20.6 mg
- Biotin 110 μg
- Folic acid 148.1 μg
- Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12) 148.1 μg
- Choline bitartrate 25 mg
- Inositol 25 mg
- Glutamine 400 mg
- Acetyl levocarnitine hydrochloride (Acetyl-L-carnitine) 122 mg equiv. levocarnitine 100 mg
- Chromium picolinate 204 μg equiv. chromium 25 μg
- Selenomethionine 60.5 μg equiv. selenium 24 μg
- Zinc glycinate 43 mg equiv. zinc 12.5 mg
- Coconut water powder 10 g
- Natural lemon lime flavour
- Thaumatin
Per tablet:
Per 4 g (Lemon Twist):
- Taurine 250 mg
- Calcium beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate monohydrate 750 mg
- Eleutherococcus senticosus 500 mg
- Camellia sinensis 100 mg
- Theacrine 75 mg
- Caffeine 125 mg
- Beta alanine 1 g
- Creatine hydrochloride 500 mg
- Betaine hydrochloride 250 mg
- Polyphenolic fulvic minerals (Cell Charge™) 5 mg
- Natural flavours
- Malic acid
- Silicon dioxide
- Stevia rebaubiana
Per tablet:
- Taurine 150 mg
- Silybum marianum ext. 60 mg
- Foeniculum vulgare ext. 150 mg
- Taraxacum officinale ext. 25 mg
- Brassica oleracea var. italica ext. 35 mg
- Glutamine 100 mg
- Curcuma longa ext. 80 mg
- Schisandra chinensis ext. 20 mg
- Sodium molybdate dihydrate 126 µg equiv. molybdenum 50 µg
- Choline bitartrate 100 mg equiv. choline 41 mg
- Inositol 100 mg
- Glycine 50 mg
Per tablet:
- Taurine 100 mg
- Beta-carotene (Carotenoids) 3 mg
- Thiamine hydrochloride (Vitamin B1) 30 mg
- Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) 20 mg
- Pyridoxine hydrochloride (Vitamin B6) 50 mg equiv. pyridoxine 41.14 mg
- Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12) 100 μg
- Calcium ascorbate dihydrate (Vitamin C) 110 mg equiv. ascorbic acid 90.9 mg equiv. calcium 10.3 mg
- Zinc amino acid chelate 75 mg equiv. zinc 15 mg
- Cholecalciferol (Vitamin D3) 5 μg equiv. vitamin D 200 IU
- d-alpha-Tocopheryl acid succinate 82.6 mg equiv. vitamin E 100 IU
- Nicotinamide (Vitamin B3) 100 mg
- Nicotinic acid (Vitamin B3) 5 mg
- Calcium pantothenate (Vitamin B5) 100 mg equiv. pantothenic acid 91.6 mg equiv. calcium 8.4 mg
- Folic acid 400 μg
- Biotin 100 μg
- Choline bitartrate 25 mg
- Inositol 25 mg
- Calcium citrate tetrahydrate 84 mg equiv. calcium 17.7 mg
- Magnesium amino acid chelate 90 mg equiv. magnesium 18 mg
- Potassium phosphate - dibasic 50 mg equiv. potassium 22.5 mg
- Silica - colloidal anhydrous 32.1 mg equiv. silicon 15 mg
- Manganese amino acid chelate 20 mg equiv. manganese 2 mg
- Borax 4.41 mg equiv. boron 500 μg
- Chromium nicotinate 500 μg equiv. chromium 50 μg
- Copper sulphate pentahydrate 196.5 μg equiv. copper 50 μg
- Potassium iodide 50 μg equiv. iodine 38.2 μg
- Molybdenum trioxide 50 μg equiv. molybdenum 33.3 μg
- Selenomethionine 124.2 μg equiv. selenium 50 μg
- Phytomenadione (Vitamin K1) 50 μg
- Glutamine 50 mg
- Lysine hydrochloride 50 mg
- Tagetes erecta ext. 20 mg
- Citrus bioflavonoids extract equiv. citrus bioflavonoids 50 mg
- Rutin (Rutoside) 15 mg
- Lycopene 2 mg
Per tablet:
- Taurine 50 mg
- Vaccinium myrtillus ext. 100 mg
- Vitis vinifera ext. 25 mg
- Lutein 6 mg
- Glutamine 25 mg
- Citrus bioflavonoids extract 50 mg
- Rutin (Rutoside) 50 mg
- Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) 263 mg
- Beta-carotene (Carotenoids) 3 mg
- d-alpha-Tocopheryl acid succinate 62.6 mg equiv. vitamin E 75 IU
- Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) 25 mg
- Nicotinamide (Vitamin B3) 10 mg
- Chromic chloride hexahydrate 256.6 µg equiv. chromium 50 µg
- Zinc amino acid chelate 75 mg equiv. zinc 15 mg
Per capsule:
- Taurine 25 mg
- Magnesium citrate 647.25 mg equiv. magnesium 100 mg
- Zinc gluconate 19.23 mg equiv. zinc 2.5 mg
- Yeast 3.13 mg equiv. selenium 6.25 µg
Per 10 g (Berry):
- Taurine
- Schisandra chinensis
- Berberis vulgaris
- Cynara scolymus
- Silybum marianum
- Passionfruit
- Citrus limon (Lemon)
- Piper nigrum
- Zingiber officinale
- Camellia sinensis
- Beta vulgaris
- Ribes nigrum
- L-glutamine
- L-glycine
- L-methionine
- Zinc gluconate
- Choline bitartrate
- Pyridoxine hydrochloride (Vitamin B6)
- Folic acid
- Selenomethionine (Selenium)
- Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12)
- Apple pectin
- Riboflavin (Vitamin B2)
- Natural flavours
- Rosmarinus officinalis
- Echinacea angustifolia
- Malpighia glabra
- Curcuma longa
- L-cysteine
- Oryza sativa (Rice hulls)
- Silicon dioxide
- Punica granatum
- Vaccinium corymbosum (fruit) powder
Per 10 g (Juicy Peach):
- Taurine
- Acetyl L-carnitine (Acetyl-L-carnitine)
- Creatine monohydrate
- L-tyrosine
- Coffea canephora ext.
- Natural flavours
- Citrus limon (Lemon) 0.9 g
- Beta vulgaris (root) powder (Beetroot)
- Sea Salt
- Quinoa (sprout) powder
- Zinc
- Paullinia cupana kunth (seed)
- Ginkgo biloba
- Eleutherococcus senticosus
- Coleus forskohlii
- Panax ginseng
- Camellia sinensis ext.
- Ilex paraguariensis
- Oryza sativa (Rice hulls)
- Sunflower seed extract
- Luo Han Guo (fruit) ext. (Monk fruit)
- Thaumatin
- Prunus persica (fruit) (Peach) 1.6 g
Per 3 g (Grape):
- Taurine
- Magnesium citrate
- Zinc gluconate
- Yeast
- Natural flavours
- Citric acid anhydrous
- Stevia rebaubiana
- Natural colour
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This monograph was last reviewed on 23/11/2022 00:57:31 and last updated on 19/09/2020 00:30:12. Monographs are reviewed and/or updated multiple times per month and at least once per year.
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Natural Medicines rates safety based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Likely Safe, Possibly Safe, Possibly Unsafe, Likely Unsafe, Unsafe, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate. For more information about Natural Medicines’ Safety Rating System, click here.
The Natural Medicines Effectiveness Ratings are assigned for specific indications. A product might be rated "Possibly Effective" for one condition, but be rated "Likely Ineffective" for another condition, depending on the evidence. For more info click here.
