Taurine is an organic acid that has become particularly well known in connection with trendy energy drinks, the positive and negative effects of which have caused a hullabaloo. With the strength of a bull, it is supposed to work, according to advertising slogans. To this end, as a derivative of amino acids, it is rumored to be derived from bull testicles, to have a stimulating effect and to mobilize the reserves of strength, but this does not quite correspond to the facts. In fact, it serves to maintain cell and organ functions in the human body and is also a component in complexly composed food supplements. Due to its natural occurrence in the body, it has many physiological effects, but in combination with other active ingredients, it can also cause side effects.
What is taurine?
Taurine is the breakdown product from the sulfur-containing amino acids methionine and cysteine. It is not an amino acid, but an aminosulfonic acid. It was first extracted as an organic acid from ox bile in the 19th century, which is why it was given the name “taurine“. The word is derived from the Greek “tauros” and means “the bull”. At that time, the chemists Leopold Gmelin and Friedrich Tiedemann mainly studied the processes of digestion, were able to isolate taurine from bile, and incidentally discovered cholesterol. Taurine occurs in bile as taurocholic acid and is released there by hydrolysis. It serves the formation of bile acids and is thus a natural component of the human organism.
Function, effect and tasks
Taurine is also present in medicines and dietary supplements and is used in medicine as an infusion for artificial nutrition. Such are given to newborns, for example, because their bodies cannot yet produce taurine themselves. Taurine is used, for example, to form the embryo‘s nerve cells and eye retina. The human adult body produces these compounds on its own and basically does not need any additional supply of taurine. Nevertheless, a taurine deficiency can occur under certain circumstances. Infants obtain taurine from their mother’s milk, for example. In addition to the body’s own stock, taurine is also found in foods, including dairy products, meat and fish. In the organism itself, the substance is contained in the tissues, serves to stabilize the cells, their membranes and bind free radicals.
Formation, occurrence, properties and optimal values
In metabolism, taurine is formed from the protein building block cysteine, which is oxidized in intermediate steps in the body. Likewise, taurine is formed during the breakdown of coenzyme A. In this process, it is a component of compounds of bile acids and promotes fat digestion. The bile acids that are formed in the liver are better dissolved by taurine. The compounds are then temporarily stored in the gallbladder and pass into the small intestine, where they are broken down again. This process produces free bile acids, which process and break down dietary fats and pass them into the blood. In addition, the fluid content in the cells is stabilized by taurine and it plays a role in the transmission of stimuli in the brain and in certain nerve functions. It also has an influence on the heart rhythm. For example, taurine can cross the blood–brain barrier in the organism and serves for signal transmission of brain cells. It stimulates membrane binding to calcium and the movement of potassium and sodium through cell membranes. This in turn causes a stable heartbeat and a positive effect on the heart muscle. Also, taurine is an antioxidant, protecting tissues from damage.
Diseases and disorders
If there is a deficiency of taurine in the body, it can lead to disorders of the immune system and kidney failure. Since taurine has an anti-inflammatory effect, tissue regions in particular are dependent on it. On the other hand, it has not been scientifically proven that taurine can increase performance, endurance and concentration. The energy drink usually becomes a stimulant in combination with caffeine and even in this respect the effect is more a kind of placebo effect than really present. Whether side effects become noticeable with increased taurine intake depends on various factors. If the maximum daily dose is observed, the intake of taurine is relatively harmless. However, this applies to healthy individuals. Kidney or circulatory problems, but also liver damage are increased by taurine. Taurine is available as an infusion solution, as a substance in beverages, as a powder or capsule.Side effects occur only when the dose is too high. The daily intake of up to one thousand milligrams per kilogram of body weight was specified. Otherwise, especially in combination with caffeine, it comes to restlessness, nausea, even heart palpitations, cramps and cardiac arrhythmias. Pregnant women, nursing mothers and children should generally avoid energy drinks. Taurine can be dangerous, especially in combination with alcohol. In discotheques, energy drinks are served as mixed drinks in combination with vodka or similar spirits and enjoy great popularity. However, this consumption is not without danger, precisely because of the combination of taurine, caffeine and alcohol. The side effects are the same as those mentioned above, but can also become more serious, leading to circulatory collapse, kidney failure and cardiac arrest. The stimulant energy drink is also not recommended in conjunction with sports activity, quite the opposite of its supposed muscle- and concentration-strengthening tendency. The drinks, known as hypertensive, neither improve mineral intake nor have a positive effect on the body’s fluid balance. Also of concern are energy shots, which have such high doses of caffeine and taurine in very small amounts of fluid that there is risk for overdose.
