Taurine in infant nutrition

The importance of taurine in diet is poorly understood. The present evidence suggests that it is a conditionally essential aminoacid in man wherein deficiency states may result in adverse changes which will be improved with supplementation. It has a role in fat absorption in preterm infants and children with cystic fibrosis, retinal dysfunction in patients receiving TPN and those with blind loop gut syndromes. Taurine is also reported to improve maturation of ABER in pre-term infants and has a role in osmoregulation of CNS and may act as neuroinhibitor.