TAURINE

Taurine is a non-essential amino acid from cysteine and because taurine contains sulfur it is an important antioxidant. A major role for taurine is protecting cell membrane from oxidative attack. Taurine is not found in the make up fo protein (muscle) but operates as a free molecule. Even though it is a water soluble molecule and does not pass through the body's fatty membranes, it is in fact found in almost all membranes i. e. the heart, white blood cells, the central nervous system and the brain. Taurine is also found in bile where it binds to bile acids for the digestion of fats and the absorption of fat soluble vitamins. Its principle roles are related to the brain, heart, gall bladder, eyes and vascular system. Taurine, next to the amino acid GABA (gamma-amino butytic acid), is the most important inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain where it acts as an anti-convulsant/anti-anxiety agent. Taurine also plays many important roles by stimulating prolactin and insulin release. It increases bilirubin and cholesterol excretion in the bile and this is vital to gall bladder function. In the treatment of heart disease (i. e. congestive heart failure, post-myocardial infarction and pre-ventricular arrhythmia), taurine can be effective in oral doses of 500mg. to 5 g. This treatment can also be used for epilepsy, gall stones, mitral valve prolapse, hypertension, retinitis pigmentosa (light sensitivity)and diabetes. Taurine is also known to stimulate natural killer cells (NK) and macrophages and the release of interleukin-1 (IL-1). These are both critical to immune response, especially with the immunodeficiency associated with most disease. Phagocytic activity in recurrent systemic infections has shown improvement after taurine administration. Other conditions such as epilepsy, migraines, heart arrhythmia, macular degeneration of the eye (blindness) and below normal host immunity will benefit from taurine.