In humans, diet is the main source of taurine (2-aminoethanesulfonic acid), a sulfur-containing molecule ( Figure 1). Identification of new factors that may help reduce incidence of CHD could have an important public health impact.ĭiet can influence heart health, and recent evidence strongly supports the idea that beneficial dietary factors such as fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, and vegetable oils should be consumed adequately. However, CHD remains the single largest killer of American men and women, with an estimate of 8.7 million US men and 7.3 million US women affected by CHD in 2005 ( 1). The identification of taurine as a preventive factor for CHD may be of great public health importance.Ĭoronary heart disease (CHD) has decreased in the US as a result of preventive measures such as smoking cessation and treatment of hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus, and obesity. We also discuss shortcomings of the human studies that need to be addressed in the future. We review what is known about taurine’s metabolism, its transportation in the body, its food sources, and evidence of its effect on cardiovascular health from in vitro, animal, and epidemiologic studies. However, data from epidemiologic and intervention studies in humans are limited. These actions suggest that high levels of taurine may be protective against coronary heart disease (CHD). Evidence from mechanistic and animal studies has shown that the main biological actions of taurine include its ability to conjugate bile acids, regulate blood pressure (BP), and act as a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent. Despite the fact that the health effects of taurine are largely unknown, taurine has become a popular supplement and ingredient in energy drinks in recent years. In humans, taurine (2-aminoethanesulfonic acid) is mainly obtained from diet.
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