Taurine
Taurine is chemically, a very simple compound, but its affects on cells is both wide-ranging and profound. It is found in high concentration in most human tissues, and is particularly high in cardiac and skeletal tissue. A person’s risk of dying from cardiovascular disease is higher if they have low 24-hour urine taurine. In studies of thousands of men and women in 22 countries, researchers found the highest mortality from heart disease in populations with the lowest 24-hour urine taurine levels. Various studies have shown that 24-hour urine taurine is a reliable biomarker for cardiovascular disease mortality risk.
Here are a some additional facts about Taurine:
- Physiological functions of taurine include maintenance of contractile function, osmoregulation, conjugation, antioxidant activity, membrane stabilization, and protein phosphorylation.
- Although most dilated cardiomyopathies are irreversible, taurine-deficient cardiomyopathy can be reversed with taurine supplementation.
- Taurine has been approved for the treatment of congestive heart failure in Japan, and shows promise for the treatment of several other diseases.
- Osmoregulation by taurine is an important factor of cell survival of all types.
- Taurine supplementation has been linked to decreased BMI and reduced inflammatory markers in obese women.
For more information contact Meridian Valley Lab at 1-855-405-8378.
