Taurine Metabolism and Synthesis Implications ![]() The scientific and clinical logic behind this difference is further explored in the following sections of this paper. Therefore, the most likely explanation is that women in this clinical setting do indeed have proportionately lower taurine plasma levels than men. In proportionately accounting for this body size difference by looking at the percentage of taurine to total plasma amino acids, women still demonstrated 9% less taurine than men (percentage of taurine to total amino acids) (Figure 1). Indeed, the plasma volume per kg of body weight is 2.5% lower in women than men. This seems intuitive, since men are generally larger than females. Women were shown to have 2.6% lower levels of total plasma amino acids as compared to men. This proved true in looking at the total plasma concentration of 24 essential and non-essential amino acids. One possible explanation for this observation is that these women generally had lower overall total free amino acids in their plasma. Overall, women had 11.4% less plasma taurine than men. The case-series analysis results are coincident with the clinic’s clinical observations (Table 2). The subjects were randomly chosen adults (50/50, women to men), of all ages and varying in health conditions from well to chronically ill, that had visited the clinic from August of 2013 through August of 2014. In a non-controlled, case-series analysis, the lab reviewed the plasma taurine levels of 800 clients. ![]() 18 For over 2 decades and 10 000+ clients, this lab has observed low taurine levels in chronically-ill clients, particularly women. 17 The differences in levels of women vs men have not been well-documented in the scientific literature.Ī leading clinic and lab in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, measures and then balances amino acid levels of both healthy and chronically-ill clients as a part of a clinical approach to determine and improve an individual’s metabolic and immune system well-being. Plasma taurine concentrations in omnivorous humans vary from 38 to 116 µmol/L. ![]() 10 Taurine may provide us with insight into some of these differences (Table 1). Risk factors and naturopathic preventive strategies therefore differ for women. Many health issues affect only women, and some are more prevalent in women. However, health conditions may affect men and women differently. Taurine is clearly implicated in many aspects of general health. Clinically, taurine has been used in a wide variety of conditions, including: cardiovascular diseases, hypercholesterolemia, epilepsy and other seizure disorders, macular degeneration, Alzheimer’s disease, hepatic disorders, alcoholism, and cystic fibrosis. 5 Metabolically, taurine is involved in: bile acid conjugation, detoxification, membrane stabilization, osmoregulation, and modulation of calcium levels. Its benefits are so broad and extensive that scientists have described taurine as “a wonder molecule.” 9 Taurine is essential in early human development, and low levels of taurine are associated with cardiomyopathy, retinal degeneration, and growth retardation. Unlike most amino acids, taurine is not a structural component of any proteins. 1 Taurine is a major component of healthy bodies, with a 70-kg human containing as much as 70 grams of taurine. As one of the most abundant free amino acids in many tissues, including skeletal and brain, it comprises over 50% of the total free amino acid pool of the heart. It can be synthesized in humans from the amino acids, cysteine and methionine. 8aurine is often referred to as a non-essential amino acid (technically an amino sulfonic acid: 2-aminoethane sulphonic acid). ![]() 5-7 As we age, our bodies typically fail to produce optimal amounts of taurine. 3,4 Under stress, the taurine synthesis capacity may be impaired, and hence disease states – including liver, kidney, or heart failure diabetes and cancer – can all cause a deficiency in taurine. However, certain diets, particularly vegetarian and vegan diets, lack adequate amounts of taurine. Taurine is often referred to as a non-essential amino acid (technically an amino sulfonic acid: 2-aminoethane sulphonic acid).
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