Beneficial Effects Of Taurine Research Articles

Short-Communication: Short-Term Treatment with Taurine Prevents the Development of Cardiac Hypertrophy and Early Death in Hereditary Cardiomyopathy of the Hamster and Is Sex-Dependent.

Premature death due to heart failure is a major health problem. Taurine is a non-essential amino acid that has received much attention. However, although many studies have been carried out on the beneficial effects of taurine in cardiac pathophysiology, no studies have investigated the effect of taurine treatment on the development of hereditary cardiomyopathy (HCM) associated with hypertrophy, heart failure, and early death. This study aims to verify whether short-term treatment (20 days) with taurine in tap water prevents the development of hypertrophy and premature death in hereditary cardiomyopathy of the hamster (HCMH) of the line UM-X7.1 and if its effect is sex-dependent. Our results show that treatment for 20 days with taurine (250 mg/kg/day or 25 mg/animal/day) during the development of the hypertrophic phase (220 days old) significantly decreased (p < 0.01) the heart weight to body weight ratio in male HCMHs without affecting the female. During the 20 days (220–240 days old), there were nearly 40% premature deaths in non-treated males HCMHs and 50% in female HCMHs. Treatment for 20 days wholly and significantly prevented early death in both males and females HCMHs. Our results demonstrate that short-term treatment with taurine prevents the development of cardiac hypertrophy associated with HCM in a sex-dependent manner; however, it prevents early death in a sex-independent fashion. Our results suggest that taurine supplementation could be used to treat HCM.

Beneficial Effects of Taurine on Metabolic Parameters in Animals and Humans.

Taurine (2-aminoethanesulfonic acid) is a non-essential amino acid mainly obtained through diet in humans. Despite the lack of research on the health effects of taurine in animals and humans, it is widely used as a dietary supplement. Evidence from human and animal studies indicates that taurine is involved in conjugation of bile acids and regulation of blood pressure and has anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anti-obesogenic properties. Taurine can benefit both human and non-human animal health in multiple ways. However, few interventional and epidemiological studies regarding the beneficial impacts of taurine in humans and other animals have been conducted. Here, we review the evidence from animal and human studies showing that taurine protects against dyslipidemia, obesity, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus.

Benzo-a-pyrene-induced reproductive toxicity was abated in rats co-treated with taurine

Benzo-a-pyrene (BaP) exposure is toxic to the reproductive systems. The beneficial effects of taurine (TAU) against BaP-induced toxicity in the epididymis and testes of rats co-treated with BaP (10 mg/kg) and TAU at doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg for 28 successive days are reported in this study. Co-treatment with TAU significantly alleviated BaP-induced decreases in sperm quality, reproductive hormones, oxidative stress and inflammatory biomarkers. TAU also lessened epididymal and testicular injuries in rats. TAU ameliorated toxic responses in the epididymis and testes of rats exposed to BaP by abating oxidative and inflammatory responses, improved sperm quality and enhanced reproductive hormone levels.

Protective effect of taurine on UVB-induced skin aging in hairless mice

Taurine, a sulfur-containing amino acid derivative, exists at a high concentration in the skin and is considered to play an important role in maintaining moisture homeostasis. This study investigated the effects of oral taurine supplementation on epidermal moisture content and wrinkle formation, as well as skin taurine content, using ultraviolet B (UVB)-irradiated hairless mice. Wrinkles were induced by exposing hairless mice to UVB radiation (70–100 mJ/cm2). Taurine was dissolved in drinking water at a concentration of 0.3 or 3% (w/v) and given to the mice ad libitum for 2–10 weeks. Taurine was then extracted from the dorsal skin, and the skin taurine content was determined using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The wrinkles were evaluated using a wrinkle score and the quantitative wrinkle area ratio. The exposure of the mice to UVB radiation for 4 weeks resulted in a decreased moisture content and increased transepidermal water loss (TEWL) in the skin, while taurine supplementation suppressed these changes. Oral supplementation with taurine for 8 weeks ameliorated the development of UVB-induced wrinkle formation. Furthermore, oral taurine supplementation for 4 weeks decreased pre-stablished wrinkles in a dose-dependent manner. Although the UVB radiation reduced the epidermal taurine content, oral taurine supplementation partly restored the taurine content in the epidermis. The present study showed that oral taurine supplementation is able to suppress UVB-induced wrinkle formation, which may be associated with the regulation of moisture content in the epidermis. The beneficial effects of taurine on skin aging may be attributed to its osmoregulatory role.

The beneficial effects of taurine in alleviating fatty liver disease

Fatty liver disease (FLD) is mainly characterized by the pathophysiological progression from simple hepatic steatosis to steatohepatitis, which has been increasing in incidence and has attracted much attention due to its risk of hepatocellular carcinoma. It is considered that lipid metabolism disorder, oxidative stress, inflammation etc. are common factors leading to the progression of FLD including alcoholic fatty liver disease (AFLD) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). A number of studies provide the evidence that taurine, a small sulfur-containing amino acid in food, has the efficient action to FLD. The beneficial effects include lowering lipids level to alleviate hepatic steatosis, increasing the antioxidant enzymes and substances to improve antioxidant defense, regulating the inflammation-related signal pathways to reduce pro-inflammatory factors and inflammatory response, and regulating the enzymes involved in ethanol metabolism etc. This review summarizes the data from in vivo and in vitro studies, and addresses the possible metabolic and molecular mechanisms of taurine in alleviating FLD.

The Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Taurine on Cardiovascular Disease.

Taurine is a non-protein amino acid that is expressed in the majority of animal tissues. With its unique sulfonic acid makeup, taurine influences cellular functions, including osmoregulation, antioxidation, ion movement modulation, and conjugation of bile acids. Taurine exerts anti-inflammatory effects that improve diabetes and has shown benefits to the cardiovascular system, possibly by inhibition of the renin angiotensin system. The beneficial effects of taurine are reviewed.

SUN-LB90 Taurine Reverses Protein Malnutrition-Induced Endothelial Dysfunction of Pancreatic Vasculature

Background: Pancreatic islets are highly vascularized and there is a correlation between endocrine pancreas function and pancreas perfusion. Protein malnutrition during early stages of development predispose to cardiovascular diseases, impaired insulin secretion and, type 2 diabetes. However, it is unknown if there are alterations in the pancreatic vasculature in response to malnutrition. Taurine (TAU) supplementation has been suggested as antihypertensive and improves endothelial function and insulin secretion in cardiometabolic disorders. Here, we investigated the effect of TAU in the vasorelaxation and endothelium-derived factors of the lieno-pancreatic artery from protein malnourished mice. Because lieno-pancreatic artery provides blood supply to pancreatic splenic lobe, a protective effect of TAU may result in cardiometabolic benefits. Methods: Post-weaned male C57Bl/6 mice fed a normal- (14%, NP) or a low-protein (6%, LP) diet for 90 days. Concomitantly, half of LP mice received 2.5% TAU in drinking water. Lieno-pancreatic artery (internal diameter ~ 160 µm) was isolated and concentration-response relaxation curves to acetylcholine (ACh), nitric oxide (NO)-donor (SNP), or hydrogen sulfide (H2S)-donor (NaHS) were performed. The involvement of NO and endothelium-derived hyperpolarization (EDH) in ACh-induced relaxation was assessed using L-NAME (NO synthase inhibitor) or KCl (to attenuate K+ efflux), respectively. Protein expression was evaluated by Western-blot; NO and H2S production by DAF-2A and WSP-1 fluorescence, respectively. Results: Endothelium-dependent relaxation to ACh was reduced in lieno-pancreatic artery from LP compared with NP group. Either KCl or L-NAME reduced ACh-induced relaxation, but only KCl abolished differences between LP and NP, suggesting that EDH rather than NO is involved in the impaired endothelium-dependent relaxation of LP. In accordance, relaxation to SNP, NO production, and endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) expression were not altered in lieno-pancreatic artery of LP group compared to NP. Because H2S has been demonstrated to have EDH activity in several blood vessels we investigated this pathway. H2S production and NaHS-induced relaxation were both reduced in lieno-pancreatic artery of LP group compared with NP. TAU treatment reversed the impaired relaxation to ACh and to NaHS, as well as significantly increased H2S production in lieno-pancreatic artery of LP group. Conclusion: Protein malnutrition resulted in endothelial dysfunction of lieno-pancreatic artery associated with an impaired production and relaxation to H2S, which was restored by TAU. Therefore, beneficial effects of TAU on lieno-pancreatic artery vasodilatory function may result in improved pancreatic islet blood flow highlighting the potential of TAU for vasculo-metabolic protection.Funding: FAPESP, CAPES.

Taurine inhibits neuron apoptosis in hippocampus of diabetic rats and high glucose exposed HT-22 cells via the NGF-Akt/Bad pathway.

Type 2 Diabetes causes learning and memory deficits that might be mediated by hippocampus neuron apoptosis. Studies found that taurine might improve cognitive deficits under diabetic condition because of its ability to prevent hippocampus neuron apoptosis. However, the effect and mechanism is not clear. In this study, we explore the effect and mechanism of taurine on inhibiting hippocampus neuron apoptosis. Sixty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into control, T2D, taurine treatment (giving 0.5%, 1%, and 2% taurine in drinking water) groups. Streptozotocin was used to establish the diabetes model. HT-22 cell (hippocampus neurons line) was used for in vitro experiments. Morris Water Maze test was used to check the learning and memory ability, TUNEL assay was used to measure apoptosis and nerve growth factor (NGF); Akt/Bad pathway relevant protein was detected by western blot. Taurine improved learning and memory ability and significantly decreased apoptosis of the hippocampus neurons in T2D rats. Moreover, taurine supplement also inhibited high glucose-induced apoptosis in HT-22 cell in vitro. Mechanistically, taurine increased the expression of NGF, phosphorylation of Trka, Akt, and Bad, as well as reduced cytochrome c release from mitochondria to cytosol. However, beneficial effects of taurine were blocked in the presence of anti-NGF antibody or Akt inhibitor. Taurine could inhibit hippocampus neuron apoptosis via NGF-Akt/Bad pathway. These results provide some clues that taurine might be efficient and feasible candidate for improvement of learning and memory ability in T2D rats.

A3278 Taurine supplementation improves vascular function in prehypertension

Objectives: Taurine is well known to lower blood pressure (BP) in hypertensive animal models. However, no rigorous clinical trial has validated whether this beneficial effect of taurine can be used to treat prehypertension in human, a key stage in the development of hypertension. Methods: In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, we assessed the effects of taurine intervention on BP and vascular function in prehypertension. We randomly assigned 120 eligible prehypertensive participants to receive either taurine supplementation (1.6 g per day) or a placebo for 12 weeks. Results: Taurine significantly decreased the clinic and 24-h ambulatory BPs, especially in those high-normal BP participants. Furthermore, pulse wave velocity (PWV, > 1400 cm/s) was positive correlated with both systolic BP and mean ambulatory systolic BP before taurine treatment in participants. After taurine treatment for 12 weeks, the correlation between PWV and systolic BP disappeared in these participants. In addition, PWV were positive correlated with both the Intima media thick and number of plaques in participants before taurine treatment, however this correlation was not found after taurine treatment. Changes in BP were negatively correlated with both the plasma H2S and taurine levels in taurine-treated participants. PWV was also negatively correlated with the ratio of abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue / visceral adipose tissue and plasma H2S in these participants. After taurine treatment, abdominal obesity and plasma H2S were improved compared with before in prehypertensive participants. Conclusion: The antihypertensive effect of taurine supplementation shows promise in the improvement of BP and vascular function in prehypertensive participants, which is associated with increasing plasma H2S.

Synergistic effects of dietary carbohydrate and taurine on growth performance, digestive enzyme activities and glucose metabolism in juvenile turbot Scophthalmus maximus L.

A 10-week feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of taurine on growth performance, digestive enzyme activities and glucose metabolism of juvenile turbot Scophthalmus maximus (initial body weight, 3.66 ± 0.02 g) fed diets with different carbohydrate level. With a 2 × 3 two factoral experimental design, two levels of dietary carbohydrate (15% and 21%, respectively) with three levels of taurine (0.4%, 1.2%, and 2.0%, respectively) were used. In addition, the diet with 15% carbohydrate and without taurine supplementation was used as the control. The results showed that, compared with the control group, 1.2% of dietary taurine supplementation significantly increased the specific growth rate, the activities of amylase and lipase in intestine, glycogen content and the mRNA levels of glucokinase, phosphofructokinase, pyruvate kinase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), glycogen synthase (GS) and glucose transporter 2 in liver at 15% of dietary carbohydrate level. Meanwhile, it significantly decreased the blood glucose concentration and the mRNA levels of cytosolic phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (cPEPCK) in liver. In addition, significant interaction between dietary carbohydrate and taurine were observed in blood glucose level. Compared to 15% dietary carbohydrate, 21% dietary carbohydrate significantly increased the blood glucose level at 1.2% and 2.0% dietary taurine level, whereas it had no significant effect at 0.4% dietary taurine supplementation level. At 21% of dietary carbohydrate level, although 1.2% and 2.0% of dietary taurine supplementation had no significant effects on blood glucose level, it significantly decreased the advanced glycationend products level in plasma and the fructose-1, 6-bisphosphatase mRNA level in liver. Moreover, compared to that fed diet with 15% carbohydrate, fish fed diet with 21% carbohydrate had lower activities of amylase and lipase in intestine and lower mRNA levels of G6PD, mitochondrial phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase and cPEPCK in liver. Furthermore, significant interactions between dietary carbohydrate and taurine were also observed in the expression of the genes involved in liver glucose metabolism above in addition to GS and cPEPCK. Overall, this study indicated that taurine had a beneficial effect on glucose homeostasis through enhancement of glycolysis, glucose transport, glycogen synthesis and the inhibition of gluconeogenesis in liver of turbot, thus decreased blood glucose level. However, the beneficial effect of taurine on glucose metabolism was affected by dietary carbohydrate level.

Protective effects of taurine on growth performance and intestinal epithelial barrier function in weaned piglets challenged without or with lipopolysaccharide

We evaluated whether weaned piglets were protected from bacterial endotoxins by placing the animals on a taurine-supplemented diet. A total of 40 weaned Landrace × Yorkshire piglets (5.75 ± 0.58 kg, weaned at 21 days) were allocated to four groups with 10 barrows per group, following a 2 × 2 factorial design with two inclusion levels of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (no or one time peritoneal injection by the dose of 100 µg/kg bodyweight on Day 7 of the trial) and two inclusion levels of dietary taurine (no or 0.1% taurine in a basal diet in the whole trial). There was a significant interaction between LPS and taurine with regard to growth and small intestinal mucosal membrane integrity, morphology, immune parameters, and antioxidant capacity (P &lt; 0.05). Feed conversion, daily weight gain, daily feed intake, villus height, and the villus to crypt ratio, vascular endothelial growth factor, regenerating islet-derived protein 3 gamma, trefoil factor-3, transforming growth factor β-1 expression, number of goblet cells and the least amount of claudin-1, occludin, zonula occludens-1, serum glutathione peroxidase, nitrogen oxide synthase, superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and total antioxidant was lowest in LPS-challenged animals. Furthermore, animals in the LPS group had the highest serum diamine oxidase concentration, number of lymphocytes, concentrations of calprotectin, sIgA, toll-like receptor-4, mRNA levels of interleukin-1β, interleukin-8, toll-like receptor-4, and tumour necrosis factor-α (P &lt; 0.05). These data suggested that the peritoneal injection administration of LPS decreased growth performance and disrupted small intestinal mucosal membrane integrity and triggered an inflammatory response in the small intestinal mucosal membrane. Dietary administration of taurine improved growth performance, increased small intestinal villus height, stimulated immune and antioxidant function and improved small intestinal mucosal membrane integrity in weaned piglets challenged without or with LPS (P &lt; 0.05). The beneficial effects of taurine were likely due to decreased stimulation of the immune response to LPS and an improvement in intestinal epithelial barrier function. Dietary administration of taurine could prevent weaned piglets from intestinal damage by LPS of Gram-negative bacteria.

Protective Roles of N-acetyl Cysteine and/or Taurine against Sumatriptan-Induced Hepatotoxicity.

Purpose: Triptans are the drug category mostly prescribed for abortive treatment of migraine. Most recent cases of liver toxicity induced by triptans have been described, but the mechanisms of liver toxicity of these medications have not been clear. Methods: In the present study, we obtained LC50 using dose-response curve and investigated cell viability, free radical generation, lipid peroxide production, mitochondrial injury, lysosomal membrane damage and the cellular glutathione level as toxicity markers as well as the beneficial effects of taurine and/or N-acetyl cysteine in the sumatriptan-treated rat parenchymal hepatocytes using accelerated method of cytotoxicity mechanism screening. Results: It was revealed that liver toxicity induced by sumatriptan in in freshly isolated parenchymal hepatocytes is dose-dependent. Sumatriptan caused significant free radical generation followed by lipid peroxide formation, mitochondrial injury as well as lysosomal damage. Moreover, sumatriptan reduced cellular glutathione content. Taurine and N-acetyl cysteine were able to protect hepatocytes against sumatriptan-induced harmful effects. Conclusion: It is concluded that sumatriptan causes oxidative stress in hepatocytes and the decreased hepatocytes glutathione has a key role in the sumatriptan-induced harmful effects. Also, N-acetyl cysteine and/or taurine could be used as treatments in sumatriptan-induced side effects.

OS 12-04 TAURINE SUPPLEMENTATION LOWERS BLOOD PRESSURE AND REDUCES CAROTID INTIMA-MEDIA THICKNESS IN PREHYPERTENSION

Objective: Taurine, the most abundant, semiessential, sulfur-containing amino acid, is well known to improve metabolic status in animal models. However, no rigorous clinical trial has validated whether this beneficial effect of taurine occurs in human, especially in prehypertensive participants. Design and Method: In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, we assessed the effects of taurine intervention on metabolic parameters, such as blood pressure (BP) levels, carotid intima-media thickness (IMT), ankle brachial index (ABI)/toe brachial index (TBI), BMI and biochemical parameters in prehypertensive participants. We randomly assigned 120 eligible prehypertensive individuals to receive either taurine supplementation (1.6 g per day) or a placebo for 12 weeks. Then we further validated the results in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), which were were intervented with 2% taurine water for 12 weeks. Results: Totally 97 participants completed the trial and no significant difference observed between the taurine and placebo groups. Taurine supplementation significantly decreased the clinic and 24-hour ambulatory BPs, especially in those with high-normal BP. In addition, taurine supplementation significantly improved endothelium-dependent and -independent vasodilation and reduced IMTs of these prehypertensive participants. Meanwhile taurine intervention increased plasma H2S and taurine concentrations. Other parameters did not change significantly upon taurine treatment compared with pre-treatment or placebo group. To further elucidate the mechanism, experimental studies were performed both in vivo and in vitro. The results showed that taurine treatment exerts hypotensive effects by upregulating the expressions of H2S-synthesizing enzymes and reducing agonist-induced vascular reactivity through the inhibition of TRPC3-mediated calcium influx in human and mouse mesenteric arteries. Also, taurine reduced ROS levels and improved mitochondrial respiratory fucntions in VSMCs from SHR compared with control group, thus inhibiting vascular remodeling pathways. Conclusions: Taurine supplementation improved vascular function of prehypertensive participants and SHRs by lowering BP levels and reducing IMT values. Taurine may become a new dietary factor improving the metabolic status in prehypertension.

Taurine ameliorated thyroid function in rats co-administered with chlorpyrifos and lead.

Chlorpyrifos is a widely used organophosphate insecticide for domestic, agricultural and industrial purposes. Lead is a toxic heavy metal and it is used for domestic and industrial purposes. Taurine is a semi essential amino acid with bioprotective properties. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of taurine on thyroid function in Wistar rats co-administered with chlorpyrifos and lead. The rats were divided into 5 groups of 10 rats each. The first two groups were administered with distilled water and soya oil (1ml/kg) respectively. The other groups received taurine (50mg/kg), chlorpyrifos+lead [chlorpyrifos (4.25mg/kg, 1/20 median lethal dose] and lead (233.25mg/kg, 1/20 median lethal dose) and taurine+chlorpyrifos+lead respectively. The treatments were administered once daily by oral gavage for 16weeks. The rats were euthanized after the completion of the study and the thyroid function and thyroid histoarchitecture were evaluated. The results revealed that co-administration of chlorpyrifos and lead to the rats induced perturbations in thyroid function and this was manifested by reductions in the concentrations of triiodothyronine and thyroxine, increased thyroid stimulating hormone concentration and degeneration of the follicular epithelia of the thyroid gland. Taurine alleviated the perturbations in thyroid function and improved thyroid gland histoarchitecture. The beneficial effects of taurine may be attributed to its ability to protect the body from toxicity and oxidative stress. Taurine may be useful for prophylaxis against disruptions in thyroid function in animals that are exposed to environmental chlorpyrifos and lead.

Taurine Attenuates Hepatic Inflammation in Chronic Alcohol-Fed Rats Through Inhibition of TLR4/MyD88 Signaling.

Accumulating evidence indicates that overconsumption of ethanol contributes in many ways to the pathogenesis of hepatic injury. Although studies indicate that taurine decreases lipogenesis, oxidative stress, and inflammatory cytokines, the protective effect of taurine against alcohol-induced liver injury is still unclear. To clarify the precise signaling involved in the beneficial effect of taurine on alcohol-induced liver injury, rats were randomly divided into four treatment groups: (1) control (Ctl), (2) alcohol (Alc), (3) Alc+taurine (Tau), and (4) Alc+silymarin (Sil). The Tau and Sil groups had lower lymphocyte infiltration and significantly lower TLR-4/MyD88 and IκB/NFκB compared to the Alc group. The inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), C-reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factors (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-1β were also significantly lower in the Tau and Sil groups than in the Alc group. The experimental results indicated that hepatoprotection against alcohol-induced inflammation may be mediated by decreased TLR-4/MyD88 signaling.

Beneficial effects of taurine and carnosine in experimental ischemia/reperfusion injury in testis

Testicular torsion can be thought of as an ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury to the testis. This study aimed to investigate the effects of taurine (TAU) and carnosine (CAR), which are strong antioxidants, on experimental testicular I/R injury model. Male Wistar albino rats were divided into four groups with eight animals in each. A sham operation was performed in group 1. To create testicular I/R, the left testis was torsioned 720° for 2 h followed by 2 h of detorsion. Groups 2 (I/R), 3 (I/R + TAU) and 4 (I/R + CAR) received intraperitoneal saline, TAU (250 mg/kg) and CAR (250 mg/kg), respectively, 1 h before detorsion. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), diene conjugate (DC), protein carbonyls (PC), nonprotein sulfhydryl (NPSH), and vitamin C levels were measured in testis tissues as well as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities. Histopathological evaluation was also performed. TBARS, DC, and PC levels were significantly increased in I/R group. TAU and CAR did not alter TBARS levels, but decreased the elevated DC and PC levels. There were no changes in testicular NPSH levels, SOD, and GPx activities in all groups; however, vitamin C significantly decreased in I/R group. CAR treatment was found to increase vitamin C levels as compared to I/R group. Histopathologically, both I/R + TAU and I/R + CAR groups showed significant increase in testicular spermatogenesis in comparison to I/R group. Our results indicate that TAU and CAR reduces oxidative stress and may have a protective role in testicular I/R injury.

Beneficial effect of taurine on hypoxia- and glutamate-induced endoplasmic reticulum stress pathways in primary neuronal culture

Stroke (hypoxia) is one of the leading causes of mortality in the developed countries, and it can induce excessive glutamate release and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. Taurine, as a free amino acid, present in high concentrations in a range of organs in mammals, can provide protection against multiple neurological diseases. Here, we present a study to investigate the potential protective benefits of taurine against ER stress induced by glutamate and hypoxia/reoxygenation in primary cortical neuronal cultures. We found that taurine suppresses the up-regulation of caspase-12 and GADD153/CHOP induced by hypoxia/reoxygenation, suggesting that taurine may exert a protective function against hypoxia/reoxygenation by reducing the ER stress. Moreover, taurine can down-regulate the ratio of cleaved ATF6 and full length ATF6, and p-IRE1 expression, indicating that taurine inhibits the ER stress induced by hypoxia/reoxygenation and glutamate through suppressing ATF6 and IRE1 pathways.

Taurine in cardiovascular disease

The shift of modern dietary regimens from 'Mediterranean' to 'western' style is believed to be responsible, in part, for the increase in cardiovascular disease, obesity, type II diabetes and cancer. A classic 'Mediterranean' diet consists of adequate intake of seafood, vegetables, fruit, whole grain and nonpurified monounsaturated vegetable oil. Thus, in humans, dietary intake of seafood is the major source of taurine, as the level of endogenously produced taurine is low. Taurine has been shown to affect coronary artery disease, blood pressure, plasma cholesterol and myocardial function in animal models of human disease. A major role of taurine is to act as an antioxidant and absorb hypochlorous acid but not the oxidative radical. It seems that this beneficial effect of taurine in antioxidant therapy has not been well promoted. This review will focus on determining whether taurine could be a factor contributing to the further prevention of heart disease.

Beneficial effect of taurine in spontaneous hypertensive rats: Implication of its antioxidant activity

Taurine, a sulfur-containing amino acid, has been reported to play an antihypertensive role but the mechanism underlying this activity is yet to be defined. In this study, we investigate the effect of taurine on blood pressure by oral administration in conscious spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Total heart weight, left ventricular weight, lipid peroxidation as well as glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase activities (SOD) were determined together with histopathological examination of heart tissue. Results indicate that four weeks of oral taurine administered significantly decreased the systolic blood pressure from 174.6 ± 6.4 to 140.08 ± 8.2 mm Hg (p < 0.05). This was associated with significant reduction of the left ventricular mass in cardiac tissues. Lipid peroxidation of the heart tissue was depressed, while SOD and GSH activities significantly increased in SHR under taurine treatment. Moreover, histological inspection of cardiac sections revealed a smaller cardiomyocytes diameter in taurine- treated animals when compared to controls. We conclude that taurine reduces blood pressure in SHR and decreases cardiac hypertrophy by impacting the antioxidant activity. Key words: Taurine, antioxidant, hypertension, spontaneous hypertensive rats.

Taurine and glucose metabolism: a review.

Taurine has probed to be involved in a wide range of biological processes and to provide several different important health benefits. Its effects have been revealed to be exerted mainly through its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, among other mechanisms. The present review is aimed to provide a solid body of evidence regarding the beneficial effects of taurine in the context of diabetes and its complications, with an special focus on the cardiovascular health impairments so frequently associated to this disease, so that data from this updated systematic review of the literature, may constitute a base to back up future clinical and epidemiological studies, on the possibilities of taurine supplementation as a useful tool for both prevention and treatment of diabetes complications. We consider results from the different experimental, in vitro studies as well as some clinical ones reviewed, to provide sufficient evidence as to constitute a solid base to back up future clinical and epidemiological studies on the usefulness of taurine supplementation both in the prevention and treatment of diabetes and its complications.