Taurine was found in 1827 as the main component of bovine bile giving it the name from Taurus which means bull in Latin1. It has not been proven its toxicity, or that it causes negative effects in humans or animals2. In fact, it is known that a lack of taurine in a diet can result in changes in the cardiovascular and reproductive system as well as abnormalities of the immune system2. Vegan children have been reported to have pediatric problems that could be due to a poor diet, but it cannot be ruled out that it is due to not eating taurine2. This component can be found in many important organs such as the liver, kidneys, brain, and more abundantly in the heart, as well as in animal products such as milk, eggs, and seafood1.
Taurine is an amino acid that cannot attach other amino acid chains due to its components, making it the most abundant free amino acid in the entire body3. In addition, it plays an important role in many metabolic and physiological processes4. Not having enough taurine in the diet has been correlated to Alzheimer’s disease, growth retardation, epilepsy, several kinds of cancer, and many more4.
Many controversies say that consuming taurine specially in energy drinks such as red bull is bad. These controversies affirm that it is bad for the heart, creates bad interaction with other body chemicals, as well as a bad supplement quality. However, there is not real evidence saying that these claims are true5. Taurine makes up 50% of free amino acids in the heart, and the consumption of it decreases arrhythmia, tachycardia, controls blood pressure and more6.
References:
1. Bulychev, E. YU., Rubanyak, N. YU. (2013). Commercial synthesis of 2-aminoethanesulfonic acid (Taurine). Pharmaceutical Chemistry journal, 46(12), pp. 740-741. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11094-013-0882-9
2. Schuller, g. b., Park, E. (2003). Taurine: new implications for an old amino acid. FEM MICROBIOLOGY LETTERs, 226(2), pp. 195-202. https://academic.oup.com/femsle/article/226/2/195/577328#94296140
3. D’Mello, J.P.F. (2003). Amino acids in animal nutrition. Edinburgh, uk: cabi. https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/mtroyal-ebooks/reader.action?docID=295046
4. Revenga-parra, m., et al. (2017). Rapid taurine and lactate biomarkers determination with disposable electrochemical detectors. ELECTROCHIMICA ACTA,240(20), pp. 506-513. https://www-sciencedirect-com.libproxy.mtroyal.ca/science/article/pii/S0013468617308587
5. Triebel. S., et al. (2006). Rapid analysis of taurine in energy drinks using amino acid analyzer and fourier transform infrared (ftir) spectrocospy as basis for toxicological evaluation. Amino acids, 33, pp. 451-457. DOI 10.1007/s00726-006-0449-0
6. Watson R. (2012). Bioactive food as dietary interventions for cardiovascular disease: bioactive foods in chronic disease states. San Diego, ca: Elsevier science & technology. https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/mtroyal-ebooks/reader.action?docID=1061960
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