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
NatMed Pro 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 9.36 g (Lemon):
- Taurine 3 g
- Total Magnesium 350 mg
- Magnesium orotate 485 mg equiv. magnesium 32 mg
- Magnesium glycinate dihydrate 1.71 g equiv. magnesium 200 mg
- Magnesium citrate 463 mg equiv. magnesium 75.1 mg
- Magnesium ascorbate monohydrate 694 mg equiv. magnesium 43.1 mg
- Zinc citrate dihydrate 48.1 mg equiv. zinc 15.1 mg
- Thiamine hydrochloride (Vitamin B1) 20 mg equiv. thiamine 17.9 mg
- Riboflavin 5-phosphate sodium (Activated B2) 10 mg equiv. riboflavin 7.68 mg
- Nicotinamide (Vitamin B3) 10 mg
- Calcium pantothenate (Vitamin B5) 164 mg equiv. pantothenic acid 150 mg equiv. calcium 13.9 mg
- Pyridoxine hydrochloride (Vitamin B6) 18.3 mg equiv. pyridoxine 15 mg
- Hydroxocobalamin (Vitamin B12) 100 μg
- Calcium folinate (Activated folate) 108 μg equiv. folinic acid 100 μg
- Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) 623 mg
- Glutamine 500 mg
- Pyridoxal 5-phosphate (P5P) 11 mg equiv. pyridoxine 7.49 mg
- Levomefolate calcium (Activated folate) 434 μg equiv. levomefolic acid 400 μg
- Mecobalamin (Vitamin B12) 400 μg
400 g Lemon
Practitioner product
Per 12.7 g (Raspberry):
- Taurine 3 g
- Magnesium bisglycinate 3.5 g equiv. magnesium 350 mg
- Potassium citrate 275 mg equiv. potassium 100 mg
- L-glutamine 2 g
- Calcium ascorbate dihydrate (Vitamin C) 605 mg equiv. ascorbic acid 500 mg
- Thiamine hydrochloride (Vitamin B1) 25 mg
- Riboflavin 5-phosphate sodium (Activated B2) 34 mg equiv. riboflavin 25 mg
- Nicotinamide (Vitamin B3) 25 mg
- Calcium pantothenate (Vitamin B5) 25 mg
- Pyridoxal 5-phosphate monohydrate (P5P) 25 mg equiv. pyridoxine 16 mg
- Zinc bisglycinate (Zinc amino acid chelate) 50 mg equiv. zinc 10 mg
- Calcium citrate tetrahydrate 711 mg equiv. calcium 150 mg
482 g Raspberry
Practitioner product
Per 8.1 g (Tropical):
- Taurine 3 g
- Riboflavin 5-phosphate sodium (Activated B2) 2.7 mg equiv. riboflavin 2 mg
- Co-methylcobalamin (Vitamin B12) 200 μg
- Magnesium bisglycinate 3 g equiv. magnesium 300 mg
- Calcium amino acid chelate 300 mg equiv. calcium 60 mg
- Pyridoxal 5-phosphate (P5P) 25 mg
- Chromic chloride hexahydrate 513 μg equiv. chromium 100 μg
- Levomefolate calcium (Activated folate) 163 μg equiv. levomefolic acid 150 μg
- Selenomethionine 125 μg equiv. selenium 50 μg
Practitioner product
Per 8.7 g (Citrus):
450 g Citrus
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Per 13 g (Orange):
- Taurine 3 g
- Magnesium citrate 1.94 g equiv. magnesium 300 mg
- Potassium citrate 553 mg equiv. potassium 200 mg
- Calcium citrate 1.82 g equiv. calcium 400 mg
- Zinc citrate dihydrate 77.9 mg equiv. zinc 25 mg
- Selenomethionine 78 µg equiv. selenium 31.5 µg
- Glycine 2 g
- Calcium ascorbate dihydrate (Vitamin C) 1.22 g equiv. ascorbic acid 1 g equiv. calcium 114 mg
- Thiamine hydrochloride (Vitamin B1) 25.4 mg equiv. thiamine 20 mg
- Riboflavin 5-phosphate sodium (Activated B2) 13.2 mg equiv. riboflavin 10 mg
- Nicotinamide (Vitamin B3) 25 mg
- Calcium pantothenate (Vitamin B5) 32.8 mg equiv. pantothenic acid 30 mg equiv. calcium 2.73 mg
- Pyridoxal 5-phosphate monohydrate (P5P) 78.4 mg equiv. pyridoxine 50 mg
- Biotin 500 µg
- Molybdenum trioxide 90 µg equiv. molybdenum 60 µg
- Chromium chloride hexahydrate 507 µg equiv. chromium 100 µg
- Menaquinone 7 (Vitamin K2) 45 µg
Practitioner product
Practitioner product
Practitioner product
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Per 9.8 g (Tropical):
- Taurine 1.5 g
- Magnesium bisglycinate 3 g equiv. magnesium 300 mg
- Myo-inositol 1 g
- Calcium ascorbate dihydrate (Vitamin C) 605 mg equiv. ascorbic acid 500 mg
- L-tyrosine 250 mg
- Calcium pantothenate (Vitamin B5) 50 mg
- Pyridoxal 5-phosphate monohydrate (P5P) 25 mg equiv. pyridoxine 15.97 mg
- Chromic chloride hexahydrate 513 μg equiv. chromium 100 μg
- Mecobalamin (Vitamin B12) 200 μg
- Levomefolate calcium (Activated folate) 216 μg equiv. levomefolic acid 200 μg
- Potassium iodide 98 μg equiv. iodine 75 μg
- Zinc bisglycinate (Zinc amino acid chelate) 30 mg equiv. zinc 6 mg
- Selenomethionine 62.5 μg equiv. selenium 25 μg
Practitioner product
Per 12 g:
- Taurine 1.5 g
- Withania somnifera ext. 150 mg
- Magnesium citrate 1.85 g equiv. magnesium 300 mg
- Potassium phosphate dibasic 222.7 mg equiv. potassium 100 mg
- L-glycine 1.5 g
- L-glutamine 1.5 g
- Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) 250 mg
- Calcium pantothenate (Vitamin B5) 50 mg equiv. pantothenic acid 45.8 mg
- Pyridoxal 5-phosphate monohydrate (P5P) 78.4 mg equiv. pyridoxine 50 mg
- Zinc citrate dihydrate 46.7 mg equiv. zinc 15 mg
Practitioner product
Per 6 g (Forest Berry):
- Taurine 1.5 g
- Hibiscus sabdariffa ext. 250 mg
- Citrulline 1.5 g
- Magnesium citrate 971 mg equiv. magnesium 150 mg
- Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) 250 mg
- Riboflavin 5-phosphate sodium (Activated B2) 15 mg equiv. riboflavin 11.4 mg
- Nicotinamide (Vitamin B3) 25 mg
- Pyridoxal 5-phosphate monohydrate (P5P) 5.35 mg equiv. pyridoxine 3.41 mg
- Calcium folinate (Activated folate) 109 μg equiv. folinic acid 100 μg
- Levomefolate glucosamine (Activated folate) 270 μg equiv. levomefolic acid 150 μg
- Mecobalamin (Vitamin B12) 250 μg
- Menaquinone 7 (Vitamin K2) 90 μg
- Selenomethionine 124.2 μg equiv. selenium 50 μg
Practitioner product
Per 7 g:
- Taurine 1.5 g
- Magnesium citrate 1.61 g equiv. magnesium 249.2 mg
- Magnesium glycinate dihydrate 438.62 mg equiv. magnesium 50 mg
- Ocimum tenuiflorum ext. 125 mg
- Glycine 1.5 g
- Calcium pantothenate (Vitamin B5) 31.4 mg equiv. pantothenic acid 28.7 mg
- Pyridoxine hydrochloride (Vitamin B6) 12.2 mg equiv. pyridoxine 10 mg
- Co-methylcobalamin (Vitamin B12) 336 μg
- Thiamine hydrochloride (Vitamin B1) 7.3 mg equiv. thiamine 5.7 mg
- Riboflavin 5-phosphate sodium (Activated B2) 8.3 mg equiv. riboflavin 6.3 mg
- Nicotinamide (Vitamin B3) 5.5 mg
- Calcium folinate (Activated folate) 271.3 μg equiv. folinic acid 250 μg
- Pyridoxal 5-phosphate monohydrate (P5P) 7.8 mg equiv. pyridoxine 5 mg
Practitioner product
Per 7 g (Wild Lime):
- Taurine 1.5 g
- Magnesium citrate nonahydrate 1.5 g equiv. magnesium 180 mg
- Magnesium glycinate dihydrate 877.17 mg equiv. magnesium 100 mg
- Magnesium orotate dihydrate 304.85 mg equiv. magnesium 20 mg
- Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) 250 mg
- Glutamine 450 mg
- Magnesium amino acid chelate 500 mg equiv. magnesium 100 mg
- Magnesium aspartate dihydrate 267.4 mg equiv. magnesium 20 mg
- Potassium sulphate 44.59 mg equiv. potassium 20 mg
- Zinc citrate dihydrate 46.76 mg equiv. zinc 15 mg
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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
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Practitioner product
Per 7 g (Orange):
- Taurine 600 mg
- L-glutamine 500 mg
- Pyridoxine hydrochloride (Vitamin B6) 50 mg equiv. pyridoxine 41.16 mg
- Co-methylcobalamin (Vitamin B12) 150 μg
- Magnesium bisglycinate 3 g equiv. magnesium 300 mg
- Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) 300 mg
- Calcium hydrogen phosphate dihydrate 269 mg equiv. calcium 63 mg
- Potassium phosphate monobasic 182 mg equiv. potassium 52 mg
- Acetyl levocarnitine hydrochloride (Acetyl-L-carnitine) 118 mg
- Nicotinamide (Vitamin B3) 50 mg
- Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) 1.9 mg
- Chromium nicotinate 250 μg equiv. chromium 25 μg
- Selenomethionine 62.5 μg equiv. selenium 25 μg
- Thiamine hydrochloride (Vitamin B1) 30 mg
420 g Orange
Practitioner product
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This monograph was last reviewed on 07/04/2025 10:00:00 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.
