Taurine
Scientific Name: 2-aminoethanesulfonic acid (C2H7NO3S).
Taurine is an organic acid found in the tissues of many animals, as well as in some bacteria, fungi, and plants in lower quantities.
It is often referred to as an amino acid, though it lacks a carboxyl group, instead employing a sulfonate group that qualifies the compound as an amino sulfonic acid.
Forms of Taurine:
In a lab setting, taurine can be synthesized through the combination of methionine, cysteine, and vitamin E.
Sources of Taurine:
Taurine is a derivative of cysteine, a sulfuric amino acid.
It was first isolated from bull bile in 1827, resulting in its name, taken from the Latin “Taurus”, meaning bull.
Synthesis of taurine occurs mainly in the sulfinic acid pathway of the liver.
Home Remedies using Taurine:
Benefits and Uses of Taurine:
Taurine assists in the formation of bile salts and has been implicated as a factor in inhibiting neurotransmission, stabilizing of membranes, homeostasis of calcium, and regulation of tissues.
Taurine is often included in infant formulas because prematurely born infants frequently lack the enzymes needed to convert cystathionine to cysteine, leaving them deficient of taurine.
It is also used to reduce blood pressure in adults.
Taurine may even assist in keeping the brain hydrated and may be added to some high-caffeine food and drink products.
As a supplement, it is used to counter the dehydration effects of creatine and anabolic steroids in bodybuilders, and it also relieves muscle fatigue during a strenuous workout.
Side Effects of Taurine:
There are no recognized negative side effects associated with taurine supplementation.
Additional Information for Taurine:
While taurine is present in bull urine and semen and can also be extracted from the intestines of cattle, popular myths regarding the use of these sources for supplements and food products are false.
The food industry, including the makers of the energy drink Red Bull, make the effort to use sources of taurine that are vegetarian friendly.
