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EC / List no.: 203-483-8
CAS no.: 107-35-7
Mol. formula: C2H7NO3S
Taurine (/ˈtɔːriːn/), or 2-aminoethanesulfonic acid, is an organic compound that is widely distributed in animal tissues.
Taurine is a major constituent of bile and can be found in the large intestine, and accounts for up to 0.1% of total human body weight.
Taurine is named after the Latin taurus (a cognate of the Greek ταῦρος) which means bull or ox, as it was first isolated from ox bile in 1827 by German scientists Friedrich Tiedemann and Leopold Gmelin.
Taurine was discovered in human bile in 1846 by Edmund Ronalds.
Taurine has many biological roles, such as conjugation of bile acids, antioxidation, osmoregulation, membrane stabilization, and modulation of calcium signaling.
Taurine is essential for cardiovascular function, and development and function of skeletal muscle, the retina, and the central nervous system.
Taurine is an unusual example of a naturally occurring sulfonic acid.
Chemical and biochemical features
Taurine exists as a zwitterion H3N+CH2CH2SO3−, as verified by X-ray crystallography.
The sulfonic acid has a low pKa ensuring that it is fully ionized to the sulfonate at the pH's found in the intestinal tract.
Synthesis
Synthetic taurine is obtained by the ammonolysis of isethionic acid (2-hydroxyethanesulfonic acid), which in turn is obtained from the reaction of ethylene oxide with aqueous sodium bisulfite.
A direct approach involves the reaction of aziridine with sulfurous acid.
In 1993, about 5,000–6,000 tons of taurine were produced for commercial purposes: 50% for pet food and 50% in pharmaceutical applications.
As of 2010, China alone has more than 40 manufacturers of taurine.
Most of these enterprises employ the ethanolamine method to produce a total annual production of about 3,000 tons.
In the laboratory taurine can be produced by alkylation of ammonia with bromoethanesulfonate salts.
Biosynthesis
Taurine is naturally derived from cysteine.
Mammalian taurine synthesis occurs in the pancreas via the cysteine sulfinic acid pathway.
In this pathway, cysteine is first oxidized to its sulfinic acid, catalyzed by the enzyme cysteine dioxygenase.
Cysteine sulfinic acid, in turn, is decarboxylated by sulfinoalanine decarboxylase to form hypotaurine. Hypotaurine is enzymatically oxidized to yield taurine by hypotaurine dehydrogenase.
Taurine is also produced by the transsulfuration pathway, which converts homocysteine into cystathionine.
The cystathionine is then converted to hypotaurine by the sequential action of three enzymes: cystathionine gamma-lyase, cysteine dioxygenase, and cysteine sulfinic acid decarboxylase. Hypotaurine is then oxidized to taurine as described above.
Nutritional significance
Taurine occurs naturally in fish and meat.
The mean daily intake from omnivore diets was determined to be around 58 mg (range from 9 to 372 mg) and to be low or negligible from a strict vegan diet.
In another study, taurine intake was estimated to be generally less than 200 mg/day, even in individuals eating a high-meat diet.
According to a third study, taurine consumption was estimated to vary between 40 and 400 mg/day.
The availability of taurine is affected depending on how the food is prepared, raw diets retaining the most taurine, and baking or boiling resulting in the greatest taurine loss.
Taurine levels were found to be significantly lower in vegans than in a control group on a standard American diet.
Plasma taurine was 78% of control values, and urinary taurine was 29%.
Prematurely born infants are believed to lack the enzymes needed to convert cystathionine to cysteine, and may, therefore, become deficient in taurine.
Taurine is present in breast milk, and has been added to many infant formulas, as a measure of prudence, since the early 1980s.
However, this practice has never been rigorously studied, and as such it has yet to be proven to be necessary, or even beneficial.
Energy drinks
Taurine is an ingredient in some energy drinks.
Many contain 1000 mg per serving, and some as much as 2000 mg.
Physiological functions
Taurine is essential for cardiovascular function and development and function of skeletal muscle, the retina, and the central nervous system.
Taurine is a biosynthetic precursor to the bile salts sodium taurochenodeoxycholate and sodium taurocholate.
Taurine functions as an antioxidant, suppressing the toxicity of hypochlorite and hypobromite produced physiologically.
Taurine reacts with these halogenating agents to form N-chloro- and N-bromotaurine, which are less toxic than their precursors hypohalides.
Role in nutrition and cardiovascular health
Taurine has been shown to reduce the secretion of apolipoprotein B100 and lipids in HepG2 cells.
Role in the muscular system
Taurine is necessary for normal skeletal muscle functioning.
Mice with a genetic taurine deficiency had a nearly complete depletion of skeletal and cardiac muscle taurine levels and a reduction of more than 80% of exercise capacity compared to control mice.
Taurine can influence (and possibly reverse) defects in nerve blood flow, motor nerve conduction velocity, and nerve sensory thresholds in experimental diabetic neuropathic rats.
Pharmacology
Taurine crosses the blood–brain barrier and has been implicated in a wide array of physiological phenomena including inhibitory neurotransmission, long-term potentiation in the striatum/hippocampus, membrane stabilization feedback inhibition of neutrophil/macrophage respiratory burst, adipose tissue regulation and possible prevention of obesity, calcium homeostasis, recovery from osmotic shock, protection against glutamate excitotoxicity, and prevention of epileptic seizures.
According to the single study on human subjects, daily administration of 1.5 g of taurine had no significant effect on insulin secretion or insulin sensitivity.
There is evidence that taurine may exert a beneficial effect in preventing diabetes-associated microangiopathy and tubulointerstitial injury in diabetic nephropathy.
According to animal studies, taurine produces an anxiolytic effect and may act as a modulator or antianxiety agent in the central nervous system by activating the glycine receptor.
Taurine acts as a glycation inhibitor. Taurine-treated diabetic rats had a decrease in the formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and AGEs content.
The United States Department of Agriculture has found a link between cataract development and lower levels of vitamin B6, folate, and taurine in the diets of the elderly.
Other uses
In cosmetics and contact lens solutions
Since the 2000s cosmetic compositions containing taurine have been introduced, possibly due to its antifibrotic properties.
Taurine has been shown to prevent the damaging effects of TGFB1 to hair follicles.
Taurine also helps to maintain skin hydration.
Taurine is also used in some contact lens solutions.
Derivatives
See also: Derivative (chemistry)
Taurine is used in the preparation of the anthelmintic drug netobimin (Totabin).
Taurolidine
Taurocholic acid and tauroselcholic acid
Tauromustine
5-Taurinomethyluridine and 5-taurinomethyl-2-thiouridine are modified uridines in (human) mitochondrial tRNA.[72]
Tauryl is the functional group attaching at the sulfur, 2-aminoethylsulfonyl.[73]
Taurino is the functional group attaching at the nitrogen, 2-sulfoethylamino.
Taurine is a type of chemical called an amino sulfonic acid.
Taurine occurs naturally in the human body and has many important functions.
Taurine is found in large amounts in the brain, retina, heart, and blood cells called platelets.
The best food sources are meat, fish, and eggs.
The body usually makes taurine on its own.
But some people cannot make it and need to get taurine from their diet or supplements.
Breast milk is rich in taurine, but infants who are not breastfed do not get enough taurine and do not have the ability to make it, so taurine is often added to infant formulas.
Taurine is also added to the formulas used for tube-feeding in adults.
People take taurine for congestive heart failure (CHF) and swelling (inflammation) of the liver (hepatitis).
Taurine is also used for athletic performance, boosting energy, diabetes, and other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
How does it work ?
Taurine has important functions in the heart and brain.
Taurinehelps support nerve growth.
Taurinemight also benefTaurinepeople with heart failure by lowering blood pressure and calming the nervous system.
This might help prevent heart failure from becoming worse.
Taurine, an amino acid important in several of the body's metabolic processes, is thought to have antioxidant properties.
But little is known about the effects of long-term supplemental taurine use.
Taurine is found naturally in meat, fish, dairy products and human milk, and it's also available as a dietary supplement.
While research is mixed, some studies suggest that taurine supplementation might improve athletic performance.
And, in one study, people with congestive heart failure who took taurine supplements three times a day for two weeks showed improvement in their exercise capacity.
Other studies suggest that taurine combined with caffeine improves mental performance.
However, further research is needed and this finding remains controversial, as does the use of taurine in energy drinks.
Keep in mind that there might be high amounts of other ingredients in energy drinks, such as herbal stimulants, caffeine, or sugar.
Too much caffeine can increase your heart rate and blood pressure, interrupt your sleep, and cause anxiety.
Added sugar might provide unwanted added calories.
What Is Taurine?
Taurine is an amino sulfonic acid that occurs naturally in your body.
Taurineis particularly concentrated in your brain, eyes, heart and muscles.
Unlike most other amino acids, it is not used to build proteins.
Rather, it is classified as a conditionally essential amino acid.
Your body can produce taurine, and it is also found in some foods.
However, certain individuals — such as those with specific illnesses like heart disease or diabetes — may benefit from taking a supplement.
Sources of Taurine
The main sources of taurine are animal foods, such as meat, fish and dairy.
Although some processed vegetarian foods contain added taurine, it is unlikely that these will offer sufficient quantities to optimize your levels.
Taurine is also often added to soda and energy drinks — which may provide 600–1,000 mg in a single 8-ounce (237-ml) serving.
However, it is not recommended to drink soda or energy drinks in high amounts due to other ingredients that may be harmful.
Because the form of taurine used in supplements and energy drinks is usually made synthetically — not derived from animals — it is suitable for vegans.
An average diet provides about 40–400 mg of taurine per day, but studies have used 400–6,000 mg per day.
The main dietary sources of taurine are animal foods, such as meat, fish and dairy.
Smaller amounts occur in some plant foods.
Taurine is also added to many energy drinks.
Functions in Your Body
Taurine, found in several organs, has widespread benefits.
Its direct roles include :
Maintaining proper hydration and electrolyte balance in your cells
Forming bile salts, which play an important role in digestion
Regulating minerals such as calcium within your cells
Supporting the general function of your central nervous system and eyes
Regulating immune system health and antioxidant function
Since it’s a conditionally essential amino acid, a healthy individual can produce the minimal amount required for these essential daily functions.
However, higher amounts may be required in rare cases, making taurine essential for some people — such as those with heart or kidney failure, as well as premature infants that have been fed intravenously.
When a deficiency occurs during fetal development, serious symptoms like impaired brain function and poor blood sugar control have been observed.
Taurine plays many important roles in your body.
Although extremely rare, deficiency is linked to several serious health issues.
May Fight Diabetes
Taurine may improve blood sugar control and combat diabetes.
Fasting blood sugar levels are very important for health, as high levels are a key factor in type 2 diabetes and many other chronic diseases.
Some animal research suggests that an increased intake of taurine could help prevent type 2 diabetes by reducing blood sugar levels and insulin resistance.
Interestingly, people with diabetes tend to have lower levels of taurine — another indicator that it may play a role in this disease.
That said, more research is needed in this area.
Taurine may benefit people with diabetes, potentially lowering blood sugar levels and improving various risk factors for heart disease.
However, further studies are needed before any claims can be made.
May Improve Heart Health
Taurine may help reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease.
Taurine may help reduce high blood pressure by decreasing the resistance to blood flow in your blood vessel walls.
Taurine may also minimize nerve impulses in your brain that increase blood pressure.
In a two-week study in people with diabetes, taurine supplements significantly reduced artery stiffness — potentially making it easier for the heart to pump blood around the body.
In another study in overweight people, 3 grams of taurine per day for seven weeks reduced body weight and improved several heart disease risk factors.
Additionally, supplementing has been found to reduce inflammation and artery thickening.
When combined, these effects may drastically reduce your risk of heart disease.
Taurine may reduce your risk of heart disease by improving several key risk factors, such as cholesterol and blood pressure.
May Boost Exercise Performance
Taurine may also have benefits for athletic performance.
What’s more, it increases fat burning during exercise.
Human studies indicate that trained athletes who supplement with taurine experience improved exercise performance.
Cyclists and runners have been able to cover longer distances with less fatigue.
Another study supports this amino acid’s role in reducing muscle damage.
Participants placed on a muscle-damaging weightlifting routine experienced fewer markers of damage and less muscle soreness.
In addition to these performance benefits, taurine may aid weight loss by increasing your body’s use of fat for fuel.
In cyclists, supplementing with 1.66 grams of taurine increased fat burning by 16%.
Taurine plays several important roles in your muscles and may aid various aspects of exercise performance by reducing fatigue, increasing fat burning and decreasing muscle damage.
Other Health Benefits
Taurine has a surprisingly wide range of potential health benefits.
Taurine may improve various other functions in your body, such as eyesight and hearing in certain populations.
In one human study, 12% of participants supplementing with taurine completely eliminated ringing in their ears, which is associated with hearing loss.
Taurine is also present in large quantities in your eyes, with research showing that eye problems may occur when these levels start to decline.
Increased concentrations are believed to optimize eyesight and eye health.
Because it helps regulate muscle contractions, taurine may reduce seizures and help treat conditions such as epilepsy.
Taurine appears to work by binding to your brain’s GABA receptors, which play a key role in controlling and calming your central nervous system.
Finally, it can protect liver cells against free radical and toxin damage.
In one study, 2 grams of taurine taken three times per day reduced markers of liver damage while decreasing oxidative stress.
However, more research is needed on most of these benefits.
Taurine has a wide range of potential health benefits, from reduced seizures to improved eyesight.
Taurine is a type of amino acid, which are the building blocks of all proteins.
Taurine is exclusively found in animal-based proteins.
Taurine is critical for normal vision, digestion, heart muscle function, to maintain normal pregnancy and fetal development, and to maintain a healthy immune system.
Taurine is an essential amino acid in the cat.
What is an essential amino acid?
When a human or animal eats proteins, the proteins are broken down into their individual amino acid components before they are absorbed.
Of the twenty common amino acids, some can be manufactured within the body from other amino acids while others are essential, meaning that the body cannot manufacture them, and they must be included as part of the diet.
Different species of animals have different essential amino acid requirements.
Why recommend administration of taurine to my pet?
Processing can affect taurine levels in the diet, while increased dietary fiber can decrease its absorption.
Cat foods that contain high-quality animal-based protein will supply adequate levels of taurine for a normal, healthy cat.
Dog food does not contain enough taurine to meet the normal requirements for a cat.
Supplemental taurine may be added to certain cat foods, especially diets that are formulated for specific needs such as growth and development or heart disease.
Supplementation is relatively safe, with no reports of problems associated with excessive dietary taurine in the cat.
Taurine was first recognized as a necessary component of the cat's diet in the late 1980's.
Since then, all diets that are formulated for cats are supplemented with enough taurine to meet the normal cat's needs.
Supplemental taurine is used as a treatment for dilated cardiomyopathy in cats.
Are other pets treated regularly with taurine?
There are isolated occurrences of taurine-deficient dilated cardiomyopathy in dogs.
There appears to be a genetic predisposition to this problem in some breeds of dogs, including American Cocker Spaniels, Golden Retrievers and Newfoundland dogs.
Supplementation of these dogs may be recommended as part of their treatment for dilated cardiomyopathy.
As previously noted, all cats require taurine as part of their diets.
A healthy cat that eats a high-quality cat food that is appropriate to its life stage does not require supplementation.
Supplemental taurine is recommended for cats with health problems, or cats that are not getting the majority of their nutrition from a high-quality commercial cat food.
How successful is supplementation with taurine?
When being used to treat dilated cardiomyopathy, taurine supplementation is usually effective if the disease is caught in its early stages.
Taurine supplementation may slow or stop the progression of retinal degeneration, but is usually not successful in reversing the damage.
How safe is taurine?
Supplementation is relatively safe, with no reports of problems associated with excessive dietary taurine in the cat.
Why We Need Supplemental Taurine
In the enthusiasm to investigate new longevity compounds, sometimes the importance of venerable ones that have been around for decades is forgotten.
Such is the case of taurine.
Foundation members used to get taurine as part of multi-nutrient formula, but this product is not as popular as it once was.
Although it’s possible for your body to produce taurine on its own, you still need to obtain taurine through diet and supplementation in order to achieve optimal amounts of this essential nutrient.
Because of taurine’s essential role in the body, supplementing with taurine can provide numerous health benefits, including restoring insulin sensitivity, mitigating diabetic complications, reversing cardiovascular disease factors, preventing and treating fatty liver disease, alleviating seizures, reversing tinnitus, and more.
Taurine Prevents Obesity
One of the ways taurine can help improve overall health is by fighting obesity.
Obesity impacts every area of the body, especially because of the inflammation-generating abdominal fat stores.
Human studies show that 3 grams per day of taurine for 7 weeks reduced body weight significantly in a group of overweight or obese (but not-yet-diabetic) adults.
Subjects saw significant declines in their serum triglycerides and “atherogenic index,” a ratio of multiple cholesterol components that predicts atherosclerosis risk.
Various animal studies support the anti-obesity and lipid-lowering capabilities of taurine, both alone and combined with other natural products.
These studies highlight taurine’s ability to improve glucose tolerance in obese animals, an important benefit given how many overweight people go on to develop diabetes.
Perhaps most alarming, animal research reveals that obesity itself causes a decline in plasma taurine levels, which, in a vicious cycle, further promotes obesity.
The observed decline in taurine levels was seen in mouse models of both genetic obesity and diet-induced obesity.
Fortunately, in the same study, taurine supplementation interrupted the cycle, helping to prevent obesity and its consequences.
What Is Taurine?
So what is taurine? Taurine, or 2-aminoethanesulfonic acid, is a type of amino acid that is found in the body and is considered the most abundant amino acid in the heart, retina, skeletal muscle, brain and immune cells.
The word “taurine” stems from the Latin word taurus, which means bull or ox, because it was first isolated from ox bile in 1827 by German scientists Friedrich Tiedemann and Leopold Gmelin.
However, contrary to popular belief, there’s no association between taurine and bull sperm.
In fact, it’s found in a variety of natural sources, both in the body and throughout the food supply.
Like other amino acids such as glutamine and proline, it is a conditionally essential amino acid. This means that the body is usually able to produce it on its own, except during times of illness and stress.
L-taurine is often added to energy drinks for those looking to take advantage of the potential taurine benefits.
It’s also widely available in supplement form, and may be beneficial for people at risk for taurine deficiency, including those receiving parenteral nutrition or those with chronic heart, liver or kidney failure.
Benefits
1. May Help Reduce the Risk of Heart Disease
Studies show that taurine may help reduce the risk of heart disease, thanks to its ability to decrease blood pressure and inflammation.
In fact, according to a review published in Amino Acids, animal models suggest that a higher intake could help protect against heart disease and prevent fatty plaque build-up in the arteries.
One study out of Japan found that taking 3 grams daily for seven weeks led to significant reductions in body weight and triglyceride levels, both of which are risk factors for heart disease.
Taurine also decreased the atherogenic index, a measure that is used to predict the risk of atherosclerosis and heart disease.
2. Possible Helps Decrease Symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease
Studies indicate that taurine may help with the regeneration of brain cells, which could be beneficial for the treatment of neurodegenerative conditions like Parkinson’s disease.
Interestingly enough, research shows that people with Parkinson’s disease were more likely to have lower levels of taurine compared to a control group.
Not only that, but lower levels were also associated with increased motor severity.
Although more research is needed on the potential taurine benefits for those with Parkinson’s disease, some research suggests that it could help reduce symptom severity by altering the activity of a specific enzyme involved in mitochondrial function.
3. Potentially Reduces Metabolic Syndrome
Metabolic syndrome is a group of conditions that increase the risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes.
These conditions include high blood pressure, excess belly fat, increased cholesterol or triglyceride levels and high blood sugar.
A 2016 review published in Food & Function analyzed a combination of human and animals studies, and reported that taurine was found to have “an efficient action against metabolic syndrome, which includes reducing triglycerides to prevent obesity, improving insulin resistance to regulate glucose metabolism, lowering cholesterol to prevent diet-induced hypercholesterolemia, and … reduce blood pressure.”
While more research is definitely needed, other research also indicates that it could be beneficial for preventing metabolic syndrome when paired with regular physical activity and a healthy, well-rounded diet.
4. Aids Patients with Periodontal Disease
Taurine acts as an antioxidant, which means that it can help fight harmful free radicals and prevent oxidative stress in the body.
Some research also shows that it could be beneficial in the treatment of periodontal disease, which is a type of gum infection often caused by poor brushing and flossing.
One study conducted at Annamalai University in India found that administering taurine to people with chronic periodontitis reduced oxidative stress in the gums and blood, which could help promote healing and improve oral health.
5. May Improve Athletic Performance
Many athletes often take a taurine supplement looking to boost physical performance and enhance endurance.
In one study, eight middle-distance runners consumed 1,000 milligrams two hours prior to running, which was found to increase performance by an average of 1.7 percent.
Another study out of Japan showed that taurine supplementation was linked to improvements in strength and endurance, thanks to its ability to act as an antioxidant and protect against exercise-induced DNA damage.
Animal models and human studies have also found that taurine may help prevent muscle injury and increase fat-burning during exercise, both of which can be incredibly beneficial when it comes to boosting athletic performance.
Taurine (2-aminoethanesulphonic acid) is predominantly found in the retina and heart and is also found in the brain, intestine, skeletal muscles and kidneys.
Application
Taurine has been used for the isolation and growth of taurine-utilizing purple non-sulfur bacteria and in phototrophic growth experiments.
Biochem/physiol Actions
Non-selective endogenous agonist at glycine receptors.
Conditionally essential sulfonated amino acid which modulates apoptosis in some cells; functions in many metabolic activities; a product of methionine and cysteine metabolism.
Taurine modulates the concentration of intracellular calcium, protects against ischemia-reperfusion injury and possesses blood pressure-lowering properties.
Taurine also has a role in bile formation and fat digestion. Deficiency of taurine is associated with anxiety, hyperactivity, epilepsy and depression.
About Taurine
Helpful information
Taurine is registered under the REACH Regulation and is manufactured in and / or imported to the European Economic Area, at ≥ 10 to < 100 tonnes per annum.
Taurine is used by consumers, by professional workers (widespread uses), in formulation or re-packing and at industrial sites.
Consumer Uses
Taurine is used in the following products: cosmetics and personal care products, air care products, biocides (e.g. disinfectants, pest control products), polishes and waxes and washing & cleaning products. Other release to the environment of Taurine is likely to occur from: indoor use as processing aid and outdoor use as processing aid.
Article service life
ECHA has no public registered data on the routes by which Taurine is most likely to be released to the environment.
ECHA has no public registered data indicating whether or into which articles the substance might have been processed.
Widespread uses by professional workers
Taurine is used in the following products: cosmetics and personal care products, polishes and waxes, washing & cleaning products, perfumes and fragrances and laboratory chemicals.
Taurine is used in the following areas: health services and scientific research and development.
Taurine is used for the manufacture of: chemicals.
Other release to the environment of Taurine is likely to occur from: indoor use (e.g. machine wash liquids/detergents, automotive care products, paints and coating or adhesives, fragrances and air fresheners) and outdoor use as processing aid.
Formulation or re-packing
Taurine is used in the following products: perfumes and fragrances and cosmetics and personal care products.
Release to the environment of Taurine can occur from industrial use: formulation of mixtures.
Uses at industrial sites
Taurine is used in the following products: laboratory chemicals, perfumes and fragrances, washing & cleaning products and cosmetics and personal care products.
Taurine has an industrial use resulting in manufacture of another substance (use of intermediates).
Taurine is used for the manufacture of: chemicals.
Release to the environment of Taurine can occur from industrial use: in processing aids at industrial sites, as an intermediate step in further manufacturing of another substance (use of intermediates) and as processing aid.
Manufacture
ECHA has no public registered data on the routes by which Taurine is most likely to be released to the environment.
Taurine is an amino sulfonic acid that is the 2-amino derivative of ethanesulfonic acid.
Taurine is a naturally occurring amino acid derived from methionine and cysteine metabolism. An abundant component of fish- and meat-based foods, it has been used as an oral supplement in the treatment of disorders such as cystic fibrosis and hypertension.
Taurine has a role as a human metabolite, an antioxidant, a mouse metabolite, a Saccharomyces cerevisiae metabolite, an Escherichia coli metabolite, a glycine receptor agonist, a nutrient and a radical scavenger.
Taurine is a conjugate acid of a 2-aminoethanesulfonate.
Taurine is a tautomer of a taurine zwitterion.
Taurine, whose chemical name is 2-aminoethanesulfonic acid, is one of the most abundant amino acids in several organs.
Taurine plays important role in essential biological processes.
This conditional amino acid can be either be manufactured by the body or obtained in the diet mainly by the consumption of fish and meat.
The supplements containing taurine were FDA approved by 1984 and they are hypertonic injections composed by cristalline amino acids.
Industry Uses:
Animal feed
Consumer Uses:
Non-TSCA use
General Manufacturing Information
Industry Processing Sectors
Food, beverage, and tobacco product manufacturing
Dietary taurine mainly comes from animal food.
Taurine is present in very low levels in plant foods.
Taurine is found in seaweeds.
Taurine is the only known naturally occurring sulfonic acid.
The material is an essential amino acid for cats and is used extensively by Ralston Purina Company as a food supplement in cat food manufacture.
Approximately 5,000-6,000 tons of taurine (synthetic and natural) were produced in 1993; 50% for pet food manufacture, 50% in pharmaceutical applications.
Description
Taruine is an organic compounds that widely existing in animal tissues.
Taurine is a sulfur amino acid, but not being used for protein synthesis.
Taurine is rich in the brain, breasts, gallbladder and kidney.
Taurine is an essential amino acid in the pre-term and newborn infants of human.
Taurine has various kinds of physiological functions including being as a neurotransmitter in the brain, conjugation of bile acids, anti-oxidation, osmoregulation, membrane stabilization, modulation of calcium signaling, regulating the cardiovascular function as well as the development and function of skeletal muscle, the retina, and the central nervous system.
Taurine can be manufactured through the ammonolysis of isethionic acid or the reaction of aziridine with sulfurous acid.
Because of its highly important physiological role, it can be supplied to energy drinks.
Taurine can also be used in cosmetics to maintain skin hydration, and used in some contact lens solution.
History As the conditionally essential amino acid of the human body, it is a kind of β- sulphamic acid.
In mammalian tissues, it is a metabolite of methionine and cystine.
Taurine was first isolated from ox bile in 1827, hence the name taurine.
Taurine commonly exists in the form of free amino acids in various tissues of animals, but not goes into proteins without combination. Taurine is rarely found in plants.
Early on, people had considered it a bile acid binding agent of taurocholic combined with cholic acid.
However, recent studies have shown that taurine has many important biological functions apart from the above mentioned forming taurocholic acid and participating in the digestion and absorption of lipids.
Taurine is important nutrients for normal development and function of cranial nerve to play the role in adjusting a variety of nerve cells of the central nervous system; taurine in retina accounts for 40% to 50% of total free amino acid, which is necessary for maintaining the structure and function of photoreceptor cells; affecting the myocardial contracts dint, regulating calcium metabolism, controlling arrhythmia, lowering blood pressure, etc; maintaining cellular antioxidant activity to protect the tissues from damaging free radicals; decreasing platelet aggregation and so on.
As the metabolites containing sulphur amino acids, mammals have different abilities to synthesize taurine: The synthetic ability of rats and dogs is stronger, the synthetic ability of human and primate is lower, while that of kits and human infants is very low.
Taurine in the infant mainly comes from the diet, so it is recommended to supplement the taurine in the baby's diet.
Foods with a higher content of taurine include conch, clam, mussel, oyster, squid and other shellfish food, which chould be up to 500 ~ 900mg/100g in the table part; the content in fish is comparably different; the content in poultry and offal is also rich; the content in human milk is higher than cow milk; taurine is not found in eggs and vegetable food.
Medicinal effect
Liver-strengthening cholagogue function: The combination of taurine and cholic acid can increase biliary permeability and is related to bile backflow; this product can also reduce cholesterol levels in the liver and reduce the formation of cholesterol calculus.
Anti-inflammatory and antipyretic effects: Taurine can lower the body temperature by effects on the central 5-HT system or catecholamine system.
Hypotensive effect: After injecting this product, it shows the effects including reducing blood pressure, slowing down heart rate, regulating vascular tension and so on.
Cardiac and anti-arrhythmia action: This product can regulate the combination of Ca++ in cardiac myocytes and can reverse the adverse effects of Ca++ on the myocardium.
Hypoglycemic effect: This product directly affects the insulin receptor of the liver and muscle cell membrane and has the effect of insulin-like hypoglycemic action.
Other effects: loosening up skeletal muscle, reversing myotonia and fighting fatigue after exercise.
Local application of this product can reduce the increased pressure in the eyeball caused by prostaglandin; there are still nutritional effects.
Clinical use at acute hepatitis, chronic hepatitis, fatty liver, cholecystitis, etc.,as well as use in bronchitis, tonsillitis, ophthalmia and other infectious diseases.
This product can be tried for cold, alcohol withdrawal symptoms, arthritis, myotonia, etc.
Chemical Properties
Taurine is a naturally occurring amino acid with a bitter taste and sharp flavor.
Taurine is a nonessential amino acid by definition because the body can synthesize it from methionine and cysteine.
Uses
vitamin B1, enzyme cofactor
Taurine is an organic acid found in animal tissues and is a major constituent of bile. Taurine has many biological roles such as conjugation of bile acids, antioxidation, osmoregulation, membrane stab ilization and modulation of calcium signaling
Taurine, whose chemical name is 2-aminoethanesulfonic acid, is one of the most abundant amino acids in several organs.
Taurine plays important role in essential biological processes.
This conditional amino acid can be either be manufactured by the body or obtained in the diet mainly by the consumption of fish and meat.
The supplements containing taurine were FDA approved by 1984 and they are hypertonic injections composed by cristalline amino acids.
A key ingredient in energy drinks and some supplements, many people may not know what taurine exactly is, and therefore whether or not it’s vegan Read on for your questions answered.
What is taurine?
Taurine is an amino acid and a naturally occurring compound found in animals and humans.
Taurine is often added to energy drinks as it has been shown to help improve performance in sport.
Taurine can also be found as a supplement; since it is generally found in meat and fish, those who are plant-based may take supplements to ensure they are getting enough.
This is however not essential as there is no recommended intake of taurine currently.
Is taurine vegan?
Taurine is vegan most of the time, as although you may have heard it is extracted from bulls urine, it is actually developed synthetically and is not obtained from animals (In the instances it is taken from animal sources, it still isn’t taken from bulls urine though, to be clear).
Uses
Taurine is an amino acid -like compound and a component of bile acids, which are used to help absorb fats and fat-soluble vitamins.
Taurine also helps regulate the heart beat, maintain cell membrane stability, and prevent brain cell over-activity.
Taurine, or 2-aminoethanesulfonic acid, is an organic compound that is widely distributed in animal tissues. Taurine is a major constituent of bile and can be found in the large intestine, and accounts for up to 0.1% of total human body weight.
Taurine is named after the Latin taurus (a cognate of the Greek ταῦρος) which means bull or ox, as it was first isolated from ox bile in 1827 by German scientists Friedrich Tiedemann and Leopold Gmelin.
Taurine has many fundamental biological roles, such as conjugation of bile acids, antioxidation, osmoregulation, membrane stabilization, and modulation of calcium signaling.
Taurine is essential for cardiovascular function, and development and function of skeletal muscle, the retina, and the central nervous system.
Taurine is a common additive to energy drinks, which are often promoted as such.
Taurine is unusual among biological molecules in being a sulfonic acid, while the vast majority of biologically occurring acids contain the more weakly acidic carboxyl group.
While taurine is sometimes called an amino acid, and indeed is an acid containing an amino group, it is not an amino acid in the usual biochemical meaning of the term, which refers to those compounds containing both an amino and a carboxyl group attached to the first (alpha-) carbon atom.
Taurine is a sulfur-containing amino acid produced endogenously and also ingested in the diet.
Taurine is ubiquitously present in most cells and has diverse biological activities, including antioxidative, anticancer, cardioprotective, and neuroprotective properties.
Taurine scavenges 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH, Cay-14805) radicals when used at concentrations ranging from 125 to 1,000 µg/ml and decreases the viability of MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells.
Taurine prevents left ventricular function dysfunction in the mdx mouse model of late-stage Duchenne muscular dystrophy when administered at a dose of 1 g/kg per day for six months.
Formal Name: 2-amino-ethanesulfonic acid.
CAS Number: 107-35-7.
Synonyms: beta-Aminoethylsulfonic Acid, NSC 32428.
Molecular Formula: C2H7NO3S.
Formula Weight: 125.1.
Purity: >95%.
Formulation: A crystalline solid.
Solubility: Water: 5 mg/ml.
SMILES: OS(CCN)(=O)=O.
InChi Code: InChI=1S/C2H7NO3S/c3-1-2-7(4,5)6/h1-3H2,(H,4,5,6).
InChi Key: XOAAWQZATWQOTB-UHFFFAOYSA-N.
Application:
Antioxidative, anticancer, cardioprotective, neuroprotective sulfur-containing amino acid
WHAT ARE ITS BENEFITS?
Taurine actually has an extensive list of health benefits including promoting:
cardiovascular health
insulin sensitivity
electrolyte balance
hearing function
immune modulation
nerve growth
bile salt formation
1. What it is it?
Taurine is an amino acid.
Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins.
Taurine is present extensively in animal tissue.
2. Where does it come from? Taurine is found in meat and fish.
Taurine is also found in human tissue, our large intestine, and human breast milk.
3. Taurine was first isolated from ox bile, and thus its name is derived from the Latin ‘taurus,’ meaning ‘ox’ or ‘bull’.
4. Nutrition.
A significant amount of taurine can help our:
Skeletal Muscles
Blood Pressure
Cardiovascular Function
The Retina
The Central Nervous System
IUPAC NAMES:
2-AMINO-ETHANE-SULFONIC ACID
2-AMINO-ETHANESULFONIC ACID
2-aminoethane-1-sulfonic acid
2-aminoethanesulfonic
2-Aminoethanesulfonic Acid
2-Aminoethanesulfonic acid
2-aminoethanesulfonic Acid
2-aminoethanesulfonic acid
2-Aminoethansulfonsäure
2-azaniumylethanesulfonate
taurine
TAURINE
Taurine
SYNONYMS:
TAURINE
2-amino-ethanesulfonicaci
2-sulfoethylamine
Aminoethanesulfonic acid
TURIN
2-AMINOETHANESULFONIC ACID 99.3+%
TATU
TAURINE extrapure CHR
Taurine ,99%
Taurine(2-Aminoethyl sulfonic acid)
.beta.-Aminoethanesulfonic acid
2-Aminoethanesulphonic acid >99%
Cholic acid of cattle and sheep
Additive Screening Solution 39/Fluka kit no 78374, Taurine solution
Taurine, USP
Taurine (100 mg)
Taurine, 99% 100GR
FEMA 3813
AMINOETHYLSULFONIC ACID
AMINOETHYLSULPHONIC ACID
2-Aminoethanesulfonic acid
2-Aminoαthylsulfonsαure
N-propyl-4-(3,7,12-trihydroxy-5,10,13,14-tetramethyl-2,3,4,6,7,8,9,11,12,15,16,17-dodecahydro-1H-cyclopenta[a]phenanthren-17-yl)butanamide
Taurine in stock GMP Factory
Taurine in stock Factory
Taurine Powder
liuhuangsuan
beta-Aminoethylsulfonic acid
Ethanesulfonic acid, 2-amino-
Ethanesulfonicacid,2-amino-
nci-c60606
O-Due
2-AMINOETHANE-1-SULFONIC ACID
2-AMINOETHANESULPHONIC ACID
2-AMINOETHYLSULFONIC ACID
2-AMINOETHYLSULPHONIC ACID
2-AMINOMETHANESULPHONIC ACID
Cholic acid (sheep and ox)
TAURINE, MEETS USP TESTING SPECIFICATIONS, CELL CULTURE TESTED
TAURINE SYNTHETIC
TAURINE 98+%
Taurine 0.1 M Solution
TaurineForSynthesis-(2-AminoetheneSulphonicAcid)
TaurineForSynthesis
2-Aminoethansulfonic
TAURINE,REAGENT
TAURINE(RG)
Ethylaminosulfonic acid
Taurine/2-amino ethanesulfonic acid
1-AMinoethane-2-sulfonic Acid
NSC 32428
Taufon
Taukard
2-Aminoethylsulfonic Acid Taurine
TAURINE FOR SYNTHESIS 250 G
TAURINE FOR SYNTHESIS 5 G
TAURINE FOR SYNTHESIS 1 KG
TAURINE(P)
