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{{Copyedit|date=January 2009}}
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| Formula = C<sub>2</sub>H<sub>7</sub>NO<sub>3</sub>S
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LOL
'''Taurine''', or '''2-aminoethanesulfonic acid''', is an [[organic acid]]. It is also a major constituent of [[bile]] and can be found in the lower intestine and in small amounts in the tissues of many animals and in humans as well.<ref>{{cite journal | author = Bouckenooghe T, Remacle C, Reusens B | title = Is taurine a functional nutrient? | journal = Curr Opin Clin Nutr | volume = 9 | issue = 6 | pages = 728–733 | year = 2006 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | author = Brosnan J, Brosnan M | title = The sulfur-containing amino acids: an overview. | journal = J Nutr | volume = 136 | issue = 6 Suppl | pages = 1636S–1640S | year = 2006 | pmid = 16702333}}</ref> Taurine is a derivative of the sulfur-containing ([[sulfhydryl]]) [[amino acid]], [[cysteine]]. Taurine is one of the few known naturally occurring [[sulfonic acid]]s.


Sorry emily. I had to do it xD
Taurine is named after the latin ''taurus'', which means bull or ox, as it was first isolated from [[ox]] [[bile]] in 1827 by German scientists [[Friedrich Tiedemann]] and [[Leopold Gmelin]].<ref>{{cite journal
| title = Einige neue Bestandtheile der Galle des Ochsen
| author = F. Tiedemann, L. Gmelin
| journal = Annalen der Physik
| volume = 85
| issue = 2
| pages = 326–337
| year = 1827
| url =
| doi = 10.1002/andp.18270850214}}</ref> It is often called an amino acid, even in scientific literature,<ref>{{cite journal | last = Stapleton | first = PP | coauthors = L O'Flaherty, HP Redmond, and DJ Bouchier-Hayes | year = 1998 | title = Host defense--a role for the amino acid taurine? | journal = Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition | volume = 22 | issue = 1 | pages = 42&ndash;48 | url = http://jpen.aspenjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/22/1/42 | accessdate = 2006-08-19 | doi = 10.1177/014860719802200142 | pmid = 9437654}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | last = Weiss | first = Stephen J. | coauthors = Roger Klein, Adam Slivka, and Maria Wei | year = 1982 | title = Chlorination of Taurine by Human Neutrophils | journal = Journal of Clinical Investigation | volume = 70 | issue = 3 | pages = 598&ndash;607 | url = http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=370261 | accessdate = 2006-08-19 | doi = 10.1172/JCI110652 | pmid = 6286728}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | last = Kirk | first = Kiaran | coauthors = and Julie Kirk | year = 1993 | title = Volume-regulatory taurine release from a human heart cancer cell line | journal = FEBS Letters | volume = 336 | issue = 1 | pages = 153&ndash;158 | doi = 10.1016/0014-5793(93)81630-I}}</ref> but as it lacks a [[carboxylic acid|carboxyl group]] it is not strictly an amino acid.<ref>{{cite book | last = Carey | first = Francis A. | title = Organic Chemistry | origyear = 1987 | edition = 6th ed. | year = 2006 | publisher = McGraw Hill | location = New York | isbn = 0-07-282837-4 | pages = 1149 | quote = Amino acids are carboxylic acids that contain an amine function.}}</ref> It does contain a [[sulfonic acid|sulfonate group]] and may be called an amino sulfonic acid. Small polypeptides have been identified which contain taurine, but to date no [[aminoacyl tRNA synthetase]] has been identified as specifically recognizing taurine and capable of incorporating it onto a [[tRNA]].<ref>{{cite journal | last = Lahdesmaki | first = P | year = 1987 | title = Biosynthesis of taurine peptides in brain cytoplasmic fraction in vitro. | journal = Int J Neuroscience | volume = 37 | issue = 1-2 | pages = 79&ndash;84 | doi = 10.3109/00207458708991804}}</ref>

==Biosynthesis==

The major pathway for mammalian taurine synthesis occurs in the pancreas via the cysteine sulfinic acid pathway. In this pathway, the sulfhydryl group of [[cysteine]] is first oxidized to cysteine sulfinic acid by the enzyme [[cysteine dioxygenase]]. Cysteine sulfinic acid, in turn, is decarboxylated by [[sulfinoalanine decarboxylase]] to form [[hypotaurine]]. It is unclear whether hypotaurine is then spontaneously or enzymatically oxidized to yield taurine.

Taurine in the pharmaceutical and lab setting is synthesized through a combination of cysteine, [[methionine]], and [[vitamin E]]. It is naturally produced in the testicles of many mammals. [[Urban legend]]s surrounding the source of taurine have included [[bull]] urine extract and bull semen. While it's true that taurine is found in both sources, it is not the source of taurine in the pharmaceutical or [[food industry]].

==Physiological roles==
{{sections}}
Taurine is [[conjugate]]d via its amino terminal group with [[chenodeoxycholic acid]] and [[cholic acid]] to form the [[bile salts]] sodium taurochenodeoxycholate and sodium taurocholate. The low [[pKa]] (1.5) of taurine's sulfonic acid group ensures that this [[functional group|moiety]] is negatively charged in the pH ranges normally found in the intestinal tract and thus improves the [[surfactant]] properties of the cholic acid conjugate, which can be found in many [[energy drinks]] today.
Taurine crosses the [[blood-brain barrier]]<ref>Urquhart N, Perry TL, Hansen S, Kennedy J. Passage of taurine into adult mammalian brain. Journal of Neurochemistry 1974 May;22(5):871-2.</ref><ref>Tsuji A, Tamai I. Sodium- and chloride-dependent transport of taurine at the blood-brain barrier. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology 1996;403:385-91.</ref><ref>Salimäki J, Scriba G, Piepponen TP, Rautolahti N, Ahtee L. The effects of systemically administered taurine and N-pivaloyltaurine on striatal extracellular dopamine and taurine in freely moving rats. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Archives of Pharmacology 2003 Aug;368(2):134-41.</ref> and has been implicated in a wide array of physiological phenomena including inhibitory [[neurotransmission]],<ref>Olive MF. Interactions between taurine and ethanol in the central nervous system. Amino Acids 2002;23(4):345-57</ref> [[long-term potentiation]] in the [[striatum]]/[[hippocampus]],<ref>Dominy J Jr, Thinschmidt JS, Peris J, Dawson R Jr, Papke RL. Taurine-induced long-lasting potentiation in the rat hippocampus shows a partial dissociation from total hippocampal taurine content and independence from activation of known taurine transporters. Journal of Neurochemistry 2004 Jun;89(5):1195-205.</ref> [[Membrane_stabilizing_effect|membrane stabilization]],<ref>Birdsall TC. Therapeutic applications of taurine. Alternative Medicine Review 1998 Apr;3(2):128-36.</ref> feedback inhibition of [[neutrophil]]/[[macrophage]] [[respiratory burst]], [[adipose]] tissue regulation and possible prevention of obesity,<ref>Ide T, Kushiro M, Takahashi Y, Shinohara K, Cha S. mRNA expression of enzymes involved in taurine biosynthesis in rat adipose tissues. Metabolism: Clinical and Experimental 2002 Sep;51(9):1191-7.</ref><ref>Tsuboyama-Kasaoka N, Shozawa C, Sano K, Kamei Y, Kasaoka S, Hosokawa Y, Ezaki O. Taurine (2-aminoethanesulfonic acid) deficiency creates a vicious circle promoting obesity. Endocrinology 2006 Jul;147(7):3276-84.</ref> calcium [[homeostasis]],<ref>Foos TM, Wu JY. The role of taurine in the central nervous system and the modulation of intracellular calcium homeostasis. Neurochemical Research 2002 Feb;27(1-2):21-6.</ref> recovery from [[osmotic shock]],<ref>Stummer W, Betz AL, Shakui P, Keep RF. Blood-brain barrier taurine transport during osmotic stress and in focal cerebral ischemia. Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism 1995 Sep;15(5):852-9.</ref> protection against glutamate [[excitotoxicity]]<ref>Leon R, Wu H, Jin Y, Wei J, Buddhala C, Prentice H, Wu JY. Protective function of taurine in glutamate-induced apoptosis in cultured neurons. Journal of Neuroscience Research 2008 Oct 24.</ref> and prevention of epileptic seizures.<ref>El Idrissi A, Messing J, Scalia J, Trenkner E. Prevention of epileptic seizures by taurine. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology 2003;526:515-25.</ref> It also acts as an [[antioxidant]] and protects against toxicity of various substances (such as [[lead]] and [[cadmium]]).<ref>Green TR, Fellman JH, Eicher AL, Pratt KL. Antioxidant role and subcellular location of hypotaurine and taurine in human neutrophils. Biochimica et biophysica acta 1991 Jan 23;1073(1):91-7.</ref><ref>Gürer H, Ozgünes H, Saygin E, Ercal N. Antioxidant effect of taurine against lead-induced oxidative stress. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 2001 Nov;41(4):397-402.</ref><ref>Das J, Ghosh J, Manna P, Sil PC. Taurine provides antioxidant defense against NaF-induced cytotoxicity in murine hepatocytes. Pathophysiology 2008 Oct;15(3):181-90. Epub 2008 Aug 3.</ref><ref>Sinha M, Manna P, Sil PC. Taurine protects the antioxidant defense system in the erythrocytes of cadmium treated mice. BMB Reports 2008 Sep 30;41(9):657-63.</ref> Additionally, supplementation with taurine has been shown to prevent oxidative stress induced by exercise.<ref>Zhang M, Izumi I, Kagamimori S, Sokejima S, Yamagami T, Liu Z, Qi B. Role of taurine supplementation to prevent exercise-induced oxidative stress in healthy young men. Amino Acids 2004 Mar;26(2):203-7. Epub 2003 May 9.</ref>

It is believed that prematurely born infants lack the enzymes needed to convert [[cystathionine]] to [[cysteine]] and may therefore become deficient in taurine. Thus, taurine is thought to be a dietary essential nutrient in these individuals and has been added to many infant formulas as a measure of prudence, since the early 1980s. However, this practice has never been rigorously studied, and as such it has yet to be proven to be beneficial, or even necessary.<ref>Heird W.C. Taurine in neonatal nutrition—revisited. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal. Ed 89. F473-F474 2004</ref>

There is also evidence that taurine is beneficial for adult human [[blood pressure]] and possibly, the alleviation of other cardiovascular ailments (in humans suffering essential [[hypertension]], taurine supplementation resulted in measurable decreases in blood pressure).<ref>{{cite journal | last = Militante | first = J. D. | coauthors = J. B. Lombardini | year = 2002 | month = November | title = Treatment of hypertension with oral taurine: exp0/en.2005-1007 | url = http://endo.endojournals.org/cgi/content/full/147/7/3276 | accessdate = 2006-08-22 | pmid = 16627576}}</ref> In a recent 2008 study, taurine has been shown to reduce the secretion of [[apolipoprotein B100]] and lipids in HepG2 cells.<ref>Yanagita T, Han SY, Hu Y, Nagao K, Kitajima H, Murakami S. Taurine reduces the secretion of apolipoprotein B100 and lipids in HepG2 cells. Lipids in Health and Disease 2008 Oct 17;7:38.</ref> High concentrations of serum lipids and apolipoprotein B100 (essential structural component of [[VLDL]] and [[LDL]]) are major risk factors of [[atherosclerosis]] and [[coronary heart disease]]. Hence, it is possible that taurine supplementation is beneficial for the prevention of these diseases. In a 2003 study, Zhang et al. have demonstrated the hypocholesterolemic (blood cholesterol-lowering) effect of dietary taurine in young overweight adults. Furthermore, they reported that body weight also reduced significantly in the taurine supplemented group.<ref>Zhang M, Bi LF, Fang JH, Su XL, Da GL, Kuwamori T, Kagamimori S. Beneficial effects of taurine on serum lipids in overweight or obese non-diabetic subjects. Amino Acids. 2004 Jun;26(3):267-71.</ref> These findings are consistent with animal studies.<ref>Choi MJ, Kim JH, Chang KJ. The effect of dietary taurine supplementation on plasma and liver lipid concentrations and free amino acid concentrations in rats fed a high-cholesterol diet. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology 2006;583:235-42.</ref> Taurine has also been shown to help people with [[congestive heart failure]] by increasing the force and effectiveness of heart-muscle contractions.<ref>[http://www.peacehealth.org/KBASE/cam/hn-1193009.htm Congestive Heart Failure], Healthnotes, Inc, PeaceHealth, January 19, 2007</ref>

Taurine levels were found to be significantly lower in [[vegan]]s than in a control group on a standard American diet. Plasma taurine was 78% of control values, and urinary taurine 29%.<ref>Laidlaw S, Shultz T, Cecchino J, Kopple J (1988) "Plasma and urine taurine levels in vegans." American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, vol. 47, pp. 660-663.</ref>

In the cell, taurine keeps potassium and magnesium inside the cell while keeping excessive sodium out. In this sense it works like a diuretic. 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.<ref>Kirk J and Kirk K. Inhibition of volume-activated I- and taurine efflux from HeLa cells by P-glycoprotein blockers correlates with calmodulin inhibition. J. Biol. Chem, Nov 1994;269:29389–29394.</ref>

According to animal studies, taurine produces [[anxiolytic]] effect and may act as a modulator or anti-anxiety agent in the central nervous system.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Kong WX, Chen SW, Li YL, ''et al'' |title=Effects of taurine on rat behaviors in three anxiety models |journal=Pharmacol. Biochem. Behav. |volume=83 |issue=2 |pages=271–6 |year=2006 |pmid=16540157 |doi=10.1016/j.pbb.2006.02.007}}</ref><ref>Zhang CG, Kim SJ. Taurine induces anti-[[anxiety]] by activating strychnine-sensitive glycine receptor in vivo. Annals of Nutrition & Metabolism 2007;51(4):379-86. Epub 2007 Aug 29.</ref><ref>Chen SW, Kong WX, Zhang YJ, Li YL, Mi XJ, Mu XS. Possible anxiolytic effects of taurine in the mouse elevated plus-maze. Life Sciences 2004 Aug 6;75(12):1503-11.</ref>

Taurine is necessary for normal skeletal muscle functioning. This was shown by a 2004 study,<ref>{{cite journal | author = U. Warskulat, U. Flogel, C. Jacoby, H.-G. Hartwig, M. Thewissen, M. W. Merx, A. Molojavyi, B. Heller-Stilb, J. Schrader and D. Haussinger | title = Taurine transporter knockout depletes muscle taurine levels and results in severe skeletal muscle impairment but leaves cardiac function uncompromised | year = 2004 | journal = [[Faseb J.]] | volume = | issue = | pages = 03–0496fje | doi = 10.1096/fj.03-0496fje | pmid = 14734644}}</ref> using mice with a genetic taurine deficiency. They had a nearly complete depletion of skeletal and cardiac muscle taurine levels. These mice had a reduction of more than 80% of exercise capacity compared to control mice. The authors expressed themselves as "surprised" that cardiac function showed as largely normal (given various other studies about effects of taurine on the heart).

Studies have shown that taurine can influence (and possibly reverse) defects in nerve blood flow, motor nerve conduction velocity, and nerve sensory thresholds in experimental diabetic neuropathic rats.<ref name="PubMed_16624563">{{cite journal | author=Li F, Abatan OI, Kim H, Burnett D, Larkin D, Obrosova IG, Stevens MJ| title=Taurine reverses neurological and neurovascular deficits in Zucker diabetic fatty rats.| journal=Neurobiology of Disease| year=2006 Jun| volume=22| issue=3| pmid = 16624563| pages=669–676| doi=10.1016/j.nbd.2006.01.012}}</ref><ref name="PubMed_11259114">{{cite journal | author=Pop-Busui R, Sullivan KA, Van Huysen C, Bayer L, Cao X, Towns R, Stevens MJ| title=Depletion of taurine in experimental diabetic neuropathy: implications for nerve metabolic, vascular, and functional deficits.| journal=Exp Neurol.| year=2001 Apr| volume=168| issue=2| pmid = 11259114| pages=259–272| doi=10.1006/exnr.2000.7591}}</ref> In another study on diabetic rats, taurine significantly decreased weight and decreased [[blood sugar]] in these animal models.<ref name="Japanese rats">{{cite journal | title=Taurine improves insulin sensitivity in the Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty rat, a model of spontaneous type 2 diabetes |journal=American Journal of Clinical Nutrition |volume= 71 |issue= 1 |pages=54–58 |url=http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/full/71/1/54 | month=January | year=2000 |author=Yutaka Nakaya, Asako Minami, Nagakatsu Harada, Sadaichi Sakamoto, Yasuharu Niwa and Masaharu Ohnaka | pmid=10617946}}</ref> Likewise, a 2008 study demonstrated that taurine administration to diabetic rabbits resulted in 30% decrease in serum glucose levels.<ref>Winiarska K, Szymanski K, Gorniak P, Dudziak M, Bryla J. Hypoglycaemic, antioxidative and nephroprotective effects of taurine in alloxan diabetic rabbits. Biochimie 2008 Oct 10.</ref> According to the single study on human subjects, daily administration of 1.5g taurine had no significant effect on insulin secretion or insulin sensitivity.<ref>Effect of taurine treatment on insulin secretion and action, and on serum lipid levels in overweight men with a genetic predisposition for type II diabetes mellitus. C. Brøns, C. Spohr, H. Storgaard, J. Dyerberg, A. Vaag. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2004) 58, 1239–1247.</ref> However it is possible that an effect may occur at higher dosages. There is evidence that taurine may exert a beneficial effect in preventing diabetes-associated [[microangiopathy]] and tubulointerstitial injury in [[diabetic nephropathy]].<ref>Wu QD, Wang JH, Fennessy F, Redmond HP, Bouchier-Hayes D. Taurine prevents high-glucose-induced human vascular endothelial cell apoptosis. The American journal of physiology. 1999 Dec;277(6 Pt 1):C1229-38.</ref><ref>Verzola D, Bertolotto MB, Villaggio B, Ottonello L, Dallegri F, Frumento G, Berruti V, Gandolfo MT, Garibotto G, Deferran G. Taurine prevents apoptosis induced by high ambient glucose in human tubule renal cells. Journal of investigative medicine: the official publication of the American Federation for Clinical Research. 2002 Nov;50(6):443-51.</ref> Taurine acts as a glycation inhibitor. Studies have shown that taurine treated diabetic rats had a decrease in the formation of [[advanced glycation end product]]s (AGEs) and AGEs content.<ref>Effects of taurine on advanced glycosylation end products and expression of TGF-β in renal cortex of, TsingHua, 2005, http://www.shvoong.com/medicine-and-health/1599878-effects-taurine-advanced-glycosylation-end/</ref><ref>Huang JS, Chuang LY, Guh JY, Yang YL, Hsu MS. Effect of taurine on advanced glycation end products-induced hypertrophy in renal tubular epithelial cells. Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology 2008 Sep 12.</ref>

Lately, cosmetic compositions containing taurine have been introduced, possibly due to its [[fibrosis|antifibrotic]] properties. It has been shown that taurine acts as a [[TGFB1]] inhibitor.<ref>Collin C, Gautier B, Gaillard O, Hallegot P, Chabane S, Bastien P, Peyron M, Bouleau M, Thibaut S, Pruche F, Duranton A, Bernard BA. Protective effects of taurine on human hair follicle grown in vitro(1). International Journal of Cosmetic Science 2006 Aug;28(4):289-98.</ref> It also helps to maintain skin hydration.<ref>Janeke G, Siefken W, Carstensen S, Springmann G, Bleck O, Steinhart H, Höger P, Wittern KP, Wenck H, Stäb F, Sauermann G, Schreiner V, Doering T. Role of taurine accumulation in keratinocyte hydration. The Journal of Investigative Dermatology 2003 Aug;121(2):354-61.</ref>

Taurine is also used in some contact lens solutions.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3921/is_200404/ai_n9383869 | title = Ocular Health and Next Generation Solutions | accessdate = 2008-01-10 | first = TJ | last = James | coauthors = Hansen D; Nolfi, J | publisher = Optometric Management | date = 2004-04-01}}</ref>

== Taurine and cats ==
Taurine is an essential dietary requirement for feline health, as cats cannot synthesize the compound. The absence of taurine causes a cat's [[retina]] to slowly degenerate, causing eye problems and (eventually) irreversible blindness — a condition known as [[central retinal degeneration]] (CRD),<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.iams.com/en_BI/jhtmls/nutrition/sw_NutritionQuestions_qanswer.jhtml?li=en_BI&sc=C&bc=I&pti=PN&qi=2169 | title = Taurine And Its Importance In Cat Foods | accessdate = 2006-08-22 | year = 2004 | work = Iams Cat Nutrition Library}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://newton.nap.edu/catalog/910.html | title = Nutrient Requirements of Cats | accessdate = 2006-09-10 | year = 1986 | work = Nutrient Requirements of Cats, Revised Edition, 1986}}</ref> as well as hair loss and tooth decay. It was discovered in 1987 that taurine deficiency can also cause [[Dilated_cardiomyopathy#Dilated_cardiomyopathy_in_dogs_and_cats|feline dilated cardiomyopathy]].<ref>[http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/sci;237/4816/764?maxtoshow=&HITS=10&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=&fulltext=Pion+Taurine&searchid=1&FIRSTINDEX=0&resourcetype=HWCIT Myocardial failure in cats associated with low plasma taurine: a reversible cardiomyopathy ]</ref> Unlike CRD, the condition is reversible with supplementation. Taurine is now a requirement of the [[Association of American Feed Control Officials]] (AAFCO) and any dry or wet food product labeled approved by the AAFCO should have a minimum of 0.1% taurine in dry food and 0.2% in wet food.<ref>[http://maxshouse.com/nutrition/aafco_cat_food_nutrient_profiles.htm AAFCO]</ref>

==Taurine and bird development==
Recent research has provided evidence that taurine is essential in early bird development of [[passerine]]s. Many passerines, regardless of spider availability, seek out many taurine-rich spiders to feed their young particularly in their youngest stages of life. Researchers later compared the behaviors and development of birds fed a taurine-supplemented diet to a control diet and found that juveniles that were fed taurine-rich diets as neonates were much larger risk takers and more adept at spatial learning tasks.<ref name=Arnold2007>{{cite journal
| author = Arnold, K.E.
| coauthors = Ramsay, S.L.; Donaldson, C.; Adam, A.
| year = 2007
| title = Parental prey selection affects risk-taking behaviour and spatial learning in avian offspring
| journal = Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
| volume = 274
| issue = 1625
| pages = 2563–2569
| url = http://www.journals.royalsoc.ac.uk/index/M820008244125737.pdf
|format=PDF| accessdate = 2008-03-26
| doi = 10.1098/rspb.2007.0687
}}</ref>

== Synthesis and production ==
In 1993, approximately 5,000–6,000 t. of taurine was produced; 50% for pet food manufacture, 50% in pharmaceutical applications.<ref name=kirk>Tully, Paul S. Sulfonic Acids. In ''Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology''. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Published online '''2000'''. {{doi|10.1002/0471238961.1921120620211212.a01}}</ref> Synthetic taurine is obtained from [[isethionic acid]] (2-hydroxyethanesulfonic acid), which in turn is obtained from the reaction of [[ethylene oxide]] with aqueous [[sodium bisulfite]].<ref>Kurt Kosswig. Sulfonic Acids, Aliphatic. in ''Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry''. Wiley-VCH, '''2000'''. {{doi|10.1002/14356007.a25_503}}</ref> Another approach is the reaction of [[aziridine]] with [[sulfurous acid]]. This leads directly to taurine.{{Fact|date=January 2008}}

== As a functional food==
Taurine is used as a [[functional food]] in many [[energy drinks]] and [[energy products]]<ref>[http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1823953,00.html This Ain't No Wine Cooler], John Cloud, ''[[Time Magazine]]'', July 17, 2008</ref> Despite being present in many energy foods, it has not been proven to be energy-giving. A study of mice hereditarily unable to transport taurine suggests that it is needed for proper maintenance and functioning of [[skeletal muscle]]s.<ref>{{cite journal | author = U. Warskulat, U. Flogel, C. Jacoby, H.-G. Hartwig, M. Thewissen, M. W. Merx, A. Molojavyi, B. Heller-Stilb, J. Schrader and D. Haussinger | title = Taurine transporter knockout depletes muscle taurine levels and results in severe skeletal muscle impairment but leaves cardiac function uncompromised | year = 2004 | journal = [[Faseb J.]] | volume = | issue = | pages = 03–0496fje | doi = 10.1096/fj.03-0496fje | pmid = 14734644 }}</ref> Additionally, it has been proven effective in removing fatty liver deposits in humans, preventing liver disease, and reducing [[cirrhosis]] in rats.<ref>M. D. J. Kerai, Catherine J. Waterfield, S. H. Kenyon, D. S. Asker, J. A. Timbrell [http://www.springerlink.com/content/m4467644l7738uw7/ Taurine: Protective properties against ethanol-induced hepatic steatosis and lipid peroxidation during chronic ethanol consumption in rats] ''Amino Acids'' Volume 15, Numbers 1-2 / March, 1998</ref><ref>{{cite news | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/4563760.stm | title = The ultimate hangover cure? | accessdate = 2008-09-01 | date = 2005-12-28 | publisher = bbc.co.uk | last = McCall | first = Becky }}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

{{Dietary supplement}}

[[Category:Amines]]
[[Category:Sulfonic acids]]

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[[ja:タウリン]]
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[[sv:Taurin]]
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[[wa:Torene (molecure)]]
[[zh:牛磺酸]]

Revision as of 20:41, 26 March 2009

OMG OMG, Emily Hargreaves likes clit :O

LOL

Sorry emily. I had to do it xD