Dietary-Induced Variations in Urinary Taurine Levels of College Women

Abstract

Dietary-induced variations in the urinary taurine excretion of healthy college women were investigated. Data were collected in three metabolic studies in which nutritionally adequate diets of constant composition were fed. Variables included isonitrogenous natural food and semi-purified diets; taurine, cystine and meat supplements; and kind and amount of dietary fat. Observed urinary taurine levels were low and ranges were narrower than those reported by other investigators. The low taurine excretion at the completion of the studies was considered evidence that urinary taurine levels in humans is related to the level of body taurine as well as to the level of dietary taurine. Urinary taurine excretion was shown to be related to dietary taurine intake rather than protein (nitrogen) intake. A relationship between kind of dietary fat and taurine excretion is suggested.