Taurine 

What is Taurine?

Containing sulfur, taurine is organic acid that exists in cells and tissues of humans and other mammals. In 1827, it was first separated from the bile of a cow, by Australian chemists Friedrich Tiedemann and Leopold Gmelin. It was named after a Greek word for a cow. Taurine is β-amino acid where amino group is attached to β-carbon of the molecular structure. Instead of Carboxyl group, sulfonic acid group whose pK value is lower, is substituted to α-carbon. Therefore, it is easily ionized even in lower pH, compared to other amino acid.

Taurine is not used for the biosynthesis of protein. Instead, it exists in the tissues and human biofluid of most animals, in rich free amino acids. In addition, taurine is recognized and highlighted these days, since it has the advantage of no accumulation or toxicity in the body even in case of intake in high concentration.

Taurine is rich contained in sea food including squid, short arm octopus, and octopus, as well as in the bile of a cow.

ㅣSource of supply Taurine, octopus

Effect of taurine

1. Improving eyesight function and preventing amblyopia 
Taurine inhibits the peroxidation of retinular membrane called multiple unsaturated fatty acid, being influenced by ultraviolet ray and other factors. This stabilizes the retina structure to protect retina. To the contrary, when taurine lacks in the human body, the function of retina can be degenerative to make lose one’s eye sight. Therefore, the intake of taurine is required for the eye health.

2. Fatigue recovery 
Taurine not only supplies moisture for cells, but also increases bile acid generated by liver, to help your fatigue recovery.

3. Antiobesity effect
Based on fat breakdown system, taurine suppresses obesity, by increasing gene expression level of glycometabolism system and adjusting fatty tissues.

4. Maintaining the function of cardiovascular system
Taurine suppresses the formation of LDL cholesterol that causes artery hardening, angina and myocardial infarction, and is effective in the prevention of a variety of blood vessel system disorders and platelet blood clot by increasing the amount of HDL cholesterol that breaks up cholesterol intruded into blood vessel tissues.

5. Adjusting the function of central nervous system 
Taurine adjusts the functions of central nervous system by strengthening the functions of hippocampus and blocking neurotransmitter because it can pass through Blood Brain Barrier(BBB).

Related Articles

1. Ameliorative effects of taurine against methimazole-induced cytotoxicity in isolated rat hepatocytes.(Heidari R1, Babaei H, Eghbal MA. Sci Pharm. 2012 Dec;80(4):987-99.)

: Taurine reduces hepatotoxicity created by the administration of methimazole stroke (antithyroid drug).

2. Taurine and liver diseases: a focus on the heterogeneous protective properties of taurine. (Miyazaki T1, Matsuzaki Y. Amino Acids. 2014 Jan;46(1):101-10. )

: Taurine is useful substance for therapy for damaged liver.

3. Taurine provides neuroprotection against retinal ganglion cell degeneration. (Froger N1, Cadetti L, Lorach H, Martins J, Bemelmans AP, Dubus E, Degardin J, Pain D, Forster V. PLoS One. 2012;7(10):e42017. )

: Taurine provides neuroprotection against retinal ganglion cell degeneration.