L-Taurine | PharmaTaurine™

L-Taurine | PharmaTaurine™

Properties: The name “taurine” likely rings a bell for pretty much most of us. It is often advertised as a secret ingredient of numerous energy drinks, right next to caffeine or guarana. Still, quite a few of us know that taurine is actually a natural amino acid secreted in our organism. What is more, it serves a wide range of functions crucial for our optimal functioning. For instance, it supports the development of the central nervous system and regulates the level of electrolytes in the body. And there is more to that!

L-taurine is quite popular among sportspeople, mainly because it has anabolic influence on the organism. How so? Well, this compound stimulates the spleen to produce insulin – one of the most important anabolic hormones. And what does this mean in practice? To put it simply, when there is more insulin available in the blood, muscles can grow faster. By the way, l-taurine improves the glucose metabolism, and in this way limits the risk of diabetes which is related to uncontrolled insulin secretion. Additionally, this natural amino acid decreases the production of enzymes that take part in protein breakdown. Therefore, taurine helps to synthesise proteins which are, after all, the main compound of muscles and as a result, boosts physical performance. No wonder that it is such a popular supplement among active people – even professional sportspeople and bodybuilders. 

This amino acid is also effectively employed in the neuroregulation quest since it has a beneficial influence on many crucial operations performed by the brain. Among others, L-taurine supports the activity of neurotransmitters responsible for good mood and stress resilience. Hence, it helps to deal with challenging situations with peace and ease. Moreover, it helps to cool down and relax – which is particularly important right before we go to sleep, when we might be overwhelmed with the stream of thoughts and emotions. 

Supplementation with L-taurine has one more positive effect on the brain. As it turns out, this compound improves the process of creating new nerve cells – the so-called neurogenesis. This helps to keep the nervous system in good condition and improves its overall performance. Practically, we might experience a noticeable improvement of memory, since the ability to recall old events and store new information depends on neurogenesis. Thus, the claim that L-taurine is the right supplement for both body and mind is valid hands down.

Lastly, let us mention one important detail. Although energy drinks often contain taurine, they are not the best source of this compound. Their energizing effect is mostly due to the properties of caffeine, whereas taurine is more of an addition. On top of that, energy drinks are rich in sugars and caffeine – two substances that limit the beneficial impact of taurine on the organism. Therefore, in order to really experience these effects, a supplement with pure L-taurine is definitely a better choice. Its properties will be more noticeable then, and clearly, as we briefly explained, they are worth it.

Occurrence: In the human organism, taurine is produced mostly by the liver and the brain. It is also present in the food items. Its main sources are products of animal origin: molluscs (oysters, mussels), fish (mainly Atlantic salmon), turkey meat, poultry liver, seafood (octopus, squid). Taurine is also found in the milk of most mammals. Goat milk contains a pretty high amount of this substance, whereas its density in cow milk is rather low. On the other hand, products of plant origin include: algae and seaweed (e.g. Japanese foliage or red algae), legume seeds (e.g. chickpeas, lentils, peas) and prickly pear fruit. 

Biochemistry: Taurine (2-aminoethanesulfonic acid) is an organic chemical compound that belongs to the group of endogenous amino acids, i.e. those that the human body can synthesize on its own. Although it is not involved in the formation of proteins, it exists in a free state in tissues and bloodstream. Its greatest amounts are found in the brain, heart, retina, spinal cord, platelets and muscles. It is synthesized through metabolism from other amino acids: cysteine and methionine. Its production takes place in the liver, brain (in the pituitary gland and pineal gland), intestines and skeletal muscles. From the gastrointestinal tract, it is mainly absorbed in the small and large intestines. Taurine dissolves very well in water and thus easily crosses the blood-brain barrier. It increases the production and upregulates the activity of serotonin and GABA, while simultaneously lowering the concentration of cortisol. In the body, it speeds up carbohydrate metabolism, controls glucose levels and participates in the transport of creatine which is responsible for the rapid regeneration of muscle mass. In addition, taurine contributes to the proper functioning of the heart and blood vessels while having a protective effect on the pancreas and liver. Taurine also supports osmoregulation – a process that maintains fluid balance and the proper level of electrolytes in the body.

Fun fact: The taurine content in the body is 1/1000 of body weight. This means that in the case of a person weighing 100 kg, the amount of taurine is 100 g. It is the only non-protein amino acid whose content in the body is so high.