What is Taurine? High and low values | Lab results explained

Taurine important for proper heart function, healthy sleep and promoting calmness.

Taurine is an amino sulfonic acid, but it is often referred to as an amino acid, a chemical that is a required building block of protein. Taurine is found in large amounts in the brain, retina, heart, and blood cells called platelets.

Taurine is an inhibitory neurotransmitter involved in neuromodulatory and neuroprotective actions.

Neurotransmitters are divided into two basic categories:

– Excitatory neurotransmitters stimulate the brain and body.

– Inhibitory neurotransmitters calm the brain and body.

Just as levels of individual neurotransmitters are important in maintaining optimum health, so is the proper balance between your excitatory and inhibitory systems.

Lower values:

Possible symptoms:

– Severe hyperactivity

– Severe anxiousness

– Severe sleep difficulties

Taurine deficiency is often associated with urinary loss of magnesium. Low plasma taurine leads to excessive loss of magnesium in urine with a reduction in body levels as well as poor retention of magnesium in tissue such as heart muscle that need high levels of it

B6 deficiency can lead to low taurine levels.

Higher values:

Taurine is an essential amino acid that may have inhibitory effects on central nervous system neurons. High urinary levels of taurine may be associated with stress reactions, depression, autism and psychosis.

Symptoms may include:

– apathy,

– sleep changes,

– irritability,

– recklessness,

– poor concentration,

– aches and pains,

– social withdrawal.

Urinary taurine levels may be high with:

– acute or chronic kidney damage,

– inherited kidney disorders,

– liver inflammation,

– or gastrointestinal dysbiotic bacterial or yeast over growth.

High levels can also be found in the following scenarios:

– Patients with Cushing’s syndrome (high cortisol) may have elevated urinary taurine levels.

– Oral supplementation may raise taurine levels; taurine is an ingredient in many “energy drinks”.

– High taurine levels may compete with glycine N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDR).

Chronically high taurine excretion may deplete intracellular magnesium and calcium.

Disclaimer:

The information on healthmatters.io is NOT intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice.