Description
Taurine exerts most of its benefits vicariously through other compounds in the body, but exerts some of its own on a cellular level. It is being heavily researched as an anti-diabetic compound due to its actions on organs of the body of most concern to diabetics (kidney, eye, nerve health) as well as controlling blood sugar while reducing some forms of insulin resistance.
Taurine is a conditionally essential, sulfur-containing amino acid and the most abundant amino acid in the heart. Adequate taurine supplementation has been shown to benefit the natural production of nitric oxide in the vascular endothelium. Nitric oxide production in the vascular endothelium, is essential to optimal blood flow, maintaining already normal blood pressure, and overall cardiovascular function.
Taurine can also inihibit LDL cholesterol oxidation, as it acts as an antioxidant. In the liver, taurine is combined with bile acids, which results in increased cholesterol solubility and excretion, thus helping us maintain healthy cholesterol levels.
Taurine’s involvement in bile acid formation facilitates fat digestion, fluid regulation, detoxification of environmental toxins, regulation of cellular calcium, and regulation of nerve excitability.
A taurine-deficient individual can be more susceptible to tissue damage from environmental pollutants such as aldehydes, chlorine, and amines.
