What is Taurine?
Taurine, or 2-aminoethanesulfonic acid, is an organic acid widely distributed in animal tissues. It is a major constituent of bile and can be found in the large intestine and accounts for approximately 0.1% of total human body weight. Taurine has many fundamental biological roles such as conjugation of bile acids, antioxidation, osmoregulation, membrane stabilization and modulation of calcium signaling. It is essential forcardiovascular function, and development and function of skeletal muscle, the retina and the central nervous system. Taurine is unusual among biological molecules in being a sulfonic acid, while the vast majority of biologically occurring acids contain the more weakly acidic carboxyl group. While taurine is sometimes called an amino acid, and indeed is an acid containing an amino group, it is not an amino acid in the usual biochemical meaning of the term, which refers to compounds containing both an amino and a carboxyl group.
Read More: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taurine
Read More: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taurine
Activity in the Brain
Taurine has several functions in your body, such keeping the stability of your cell membranes and preventing too much activity in your brain cells. The University of Maryland Medical Center notes that taurine may have an involvement with the electrical activity in your brain. Taurine acts like the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid, or GABA, which reduces activity in the brain. GABA can also inhibit epileptic activity. In a 2008 study conducted by Weill Cornell Medical College and published in the "Journal of Neuroscience," researchers found that taurine is also a strong activator of GABA receptors in the thalamus, which are the areas that the neurotransmitter binds to. Some of the medications prescribed for seizures affect GABA. Examples include vigabatrin, a less commonly used antiepileptic drug that increases GABA, and retigabine, an investigational drug that enhances GABA.
Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/356544-taurine-seizures/#ixzz2Iwo7hzQP
Neurological Functions
Taurine functions in the brain and the heart to stabilize the cell membrane by regulating the electro-chemical forces. It tends to inhibit and modulate neurotransmitters in the brain and helps to stabilize cell membranes. It is beneficial to the gall bladders, eyes, blood vessels, and has some antioxidant and detoxifying activities. Because it aids the movement of potassium, sodium, and calcium in and out of the cell, taurine has been used as a supplementation for epileptics as well as for people who have uncontrollable facial twitches. However, because of its inability to cross the blood brain barrier, the use of taurine to treat people who are in a neurological dysfunctional state is limited.
Between 1 and 3g a day, there is usually no problem.
However at a dosage of more than 5g a day, taurine may occasionally cause loose stool. The general dosage for people who have edema, high blood pressure, and seizure disorders range from 0.5-4g a day. In high doses, taurine may increase slightly the secretion of stomach acid.
Read More: http://www.drlam.com/opinion/taurine.asp
Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/356544-taurine-seizures/#ixzz2Iwo7hzQP
Neurological Functions
Taurine functions in the brain and the heart to stabilize the cell membrane by regulating the electro-chemical forces. It tends to inhibit and modulate neurotransmitters in the brain and helps to stabilize cell membranes. It is beneficial to the gall bladders, eyes, blood vessels, and has some antioxidant and detoxifying activities. Because it aids the movement of potassium, sodium, and calcium in and out of the cell, taurine has been used as a supplementation for epileptics as well as for people who have uncontrollable facial twitches. However, because of its inability to cross the blood brain barrier, the use of taurine to treat people who are in a neurological dysfunctional state is limited.
Between 1 and 3g a day, there is usually no problem.
However at a dosage of more than 5g a day, taurine may occasionally cause loose stool. The general dosage for people who have edema, high blood pressure, and seizure disorders range from 0.5-4g a day. In high doses, taurine may increase slightly the secretion of stomach acid.
Read More: http://www.drlam.com/opinion/taurine.asp