Taurine

Taurine/Nutrient Depletion:

  • FatFat: Based on studies in cystic fibrosis patients, preterm infants, and biliary surgical patients, taurine may increase the absorption of fat and decrease fatty acid excretion (20; 19; 34; 58).
  • GlucoseGlucose: Taurine may lower blood sugar levels (65). In animal research, intraperitoneal administration of taurine dose-dependently attenuated streptozotocin-induced elevations in various diabetes-associated biochemical parameters, including glucose (67).
  • LipidsLipids: In human research, taurine has been shown to increase or decrease serum triglycerides (17; 57; 93), increase very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) (57), and decrease serum cholesterol levels (111; 93). In epidemiological research, taurine was inversely correlated with both high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (p=0.004) and apoA1 (p<0.001) (112). A lack of effect on cholesterol and triglycerides levels has also been noted (35).
  • IronIron: Taurine may increase the absorption of iron, based on a clinical trial (91).
  • TyrosineTyrosine: Based on a study in infants, taurine-supplemented formula may reduce tyrosine levels (30).
  • Vitamin DVitamin D: In clinical research, low dietary intake of taurine was associated with inadequate absorption of vitamin D in preterm infants (181).