Taurine helps the cardiovascular system through a variety of mechanisms.
Taurine support the anti-obesity and has lipid-lowering capabilities both alone and combined with other natural products.
Many studies highlight taurine’s ability to improve glucose tolerance in obese animals, an important benefit given how many overweight people go on to develop diabetes.
Taurine Provides Potent Retina Protection
Taurine Helps Reverse Tinnitus and can reverse the biochemical processes behind hearing loss.
Taurine Prevents and Treats Liver Disease
It increases the action of insulin, improving glucose tolerance, and acting as an antioxidant
It is vital for the proper function of the minerals potassium, calcium, magnesium, and sodium
It regulates heart rhythm, cardiac contraction, blood pressure, and platelet aggregation, and regulates the excitability of neurons
It detoxifies liver cells of various toxins.
It helps form bile acids and maintains cell membrane stability
It reduces the synthesis of lipids and cholesterol that are associated with atherosclerosis
The Forgotten Longevity Benefits of Taurine - Life Extension
The potential health benefits of taurine in cardiovascular disease:
The potential health benefits of taurine in cardiovascular disease
The effect of taurine on chronic heart failure: actions of taurine against catecholamine and angiotensin II.
The effect of taurine on chronic heart failure: ... [Amino Acids. 2013] - PubMed - NCBI
Taurine
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normal to slightly higher levels of taurine increases force production in skeletal muscle but taurine levels may fall during exercise.
Taurine concentration was decreased in all skeletal muscles after exercise, regardless of the duration. Moreover, this decrease was specific to
fast-twitch dominant fibers.
There have been several studies that have strictly examined the effects of taurine supplementation on endurance athletes. It was found that left ventricular contractility was increased thus lowering heart rates at sub-maximal intensities
After a two week study involving methods of taurine depletion such as intense and exhaustive exercise those who used taurine did not have any depletion of the amino acid in their body. Furthermore, there were also positive signs that showed potential
long term beneficial endurance effects.
Summary and Recommendation
Taurine currently has very little research to thoroughly support its supplementation. However, as seen through several of the above studies it may appear to be of general aid to most athletes. Some of the more apparent benefits seen with taurine include: maintenance of taurine levels during exhaustive exercise (which is vital for optimal performance), reduction of blood pressure, enhanced attention and cognitive performance, enhanced feelings of well being, and improved maximal aerobic, anaerobic, and mental performance. It also appears that by maintaining proper taurine levels in the body through supplementation, force production, strength, and muscular power will be optimized.
Dosage recommendations for taurine seem to be somewhat unclear at this time. However, most reputable companies suggest 500mg-3,000mg per day as the standard dosage. However, dosages up to 6,000mg have been seen in cardiac patients trying to lower blood pressure. Although timing is not as much of a factor as other supplements, taking a small dose of taurine before and after training may be optimal for enhancing performance. Toxicity is currently not an issue with taurine. However, athletes may not want to exceed 3,000mg as more does not seem to have any added benefit on performance.
