Taurine

Taurine is a non-essential amino acid except ion the case of premature babies, who must receive an external intake. It is sythesized from cysteine.

=Properties= -Facilitates the passage of electrically charged ions (electrolytes) through cell membranes -Powerful and lasting anti-convulsant: stabilizes the electrical equilibrium of cell membranes

=Complements= -Vitamin B6 in the form of co-enzyme

=Antagonists= -Alanine

=Deficiency= -Cardiovascular Problems -Epilepsy

=Therapeutic Indications= -Prevents Gall Stones -Epilepsy -Hypercholesterolemia -Arterial Hypertension

=Contraindications= -Stomach Ulcers

=Food Sources= Giblets, particularly brain. All meat and Fish.

=Therapeutic Dose= Between 500mg.and 5 grams

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============================================================== //Medical Nutrition// acid, non-essential • infants in breast milk (they don’t make) • -HBP/Heart disease/ seizures- inc needs • -well absorbed orally • -Made from Cysteine and methionine with B6

Function
• Production and activity of cAMP. • Heart contraction • Lowers cholesterol via bile salts – taurocholate. Makes biles salts more soluble for better excretion • Concentrated in the eyes, neutrophils and skeletal muscle • RDA- non-essential • Avg intake: 40-400mg • Therapeutic: 1.5-3gm • Sources: Cheese, animals and fish – organ meat • Deficient in cats (blind and seizures) and premies - seizures ?

Treatment:
1. CVD, low post MI and ischemic heart disease. Used in Japan to Tx heart disease 2. Seizures: Helps maintain normal glutamate in NS, stabilizes membranes 3. CHF, arrhythmias- stops oxidative stress and injury, reduces palpitations, dyspnea, and edema 2gm/tid 4.Macular/retinal degeneration (Retinitis pigmentosa), reg osmotic pressure in the eye 5.Diabetes ?helps insulin release, stabilizes insulin release, glycogen synthesis, panc beta cells 6. Inh platelet aggregation/400-1600mg useful DM 7. Iron deficiency 1000mg -Gaby 2007 • 6. Detoxification – counters toxins from aldehydes, chlorine, and amines, hepatotoxics: CCl4, ETOH, Cd, Inhibits intestinal endotoxins causing hepatic injury / ETOH –Decreases withdrawal psychosis • 7. Membrane stability – decreases lipid peroxidation of membranes, hydrates brain with glucaric acid • 8. Post cellular injury, Ca++ influx into the cells causes continued neurological and other cellular damage, Taurine stops cell death post injury that occur (as with MIs, migraines and seizures)- • 9. Growth and development • 10. Hepatic function- Hepatitis- 4gm/tid after meals, decreases bilirubin, changes bile acids and decreases gallstone formation [consider w/ lecithin, bile salts, milkthistle, subhuti's atractylodes formula] 11. schizophrenia [better w/ Mg]