Comparative studies on serum taurine and plasma fatty acids in humans between the sea side area in Toyama, Japan and the mountain areas in Inner Mongolia, China.

Abstract

Serum taurine/glycine ratio was associated with biochemical markers related to atherosclerosis. Serum taurine/glycine ratio was highest in Toyama City. Therefore, there is a possibility that daily dietary intake of taurine derived from dietary intake of fish and shellfish might contribute to the low incidence of ischemic heart disease in Japan, through the change of serum lipid metabolism, including the increase in n-3fatty acids and HDL cholesterol.