Amino Acids - Taurine

Taurine is one of the most abundant free amino acids in the body. It is not incorporated into proteins, yet taurine is very important in metabolism and is present in particularly high levels in the brain, heart, and retina of the eye where it serves several important functions.

Helps stabilize the excitability of membranes which is very important in the control of epileptic seizures. Taurine and sulfur are considered to be factors necessary for the control of many biochemical changes that take place in the aging process; aids in the clearing of free radical wastes.

Biosynthesized from Cysteine. Taurine is considered to be a "conditionally-essential" amino acid for adults, meaning that it is required in the diet only under certain conditions. It is essential, however, in infancy, where it is critical to development of the central nervous system and muscle tissue. Taurine can be synthesized in the body from cysteine or other sulfur or cysteine containing compounds. Synthesis of taurine also requires three vitamin B6-dependent enzymes. Thus a deficiency of vitamin B6 or cysteine/sulfur may result in inadequate levels of taurine.

Last Update: August 01, 2003