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Plasma and urine taurine levels in vegans
S A Laidlaw1, T D Shultz, J T Cecchino
1Department of Medicine, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, CA 90509.
The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
|April 1, 1988
Summary
Strict vegetarian (vegan) diets significantly lower plasma taurine levels and urinary taurine excretion in males. This prolonged absence of dietary taurine impacts taurine status, highlighting the need for dietary considerations.
Area of Science:
- Nutritional Science
- Human Physiology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Taurine is an amino sulfonic acid found in various foods.
- Dietary taurine intake is common in omnivorous diets but absent in vegan diets.
- The physiological impact of long-term taurine absence from the diet requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of a prolonged vegan diet on plasma taurine levels and urinary taurine excretion in males.
- To compare taurine status between strict vegan males and nonvegetarian controls.
- To assess the intake of related nutrients in the vegan diet.
Main Methods:
- Measured plasma taurine levels and urinary taurine excretion in 12 male vegans and 14 male nonvegetarians.
- Analyzed 3-day dietary records of vegan participants.
- Quantified urinary N pi-methylhistidine and N tau-methylhistidine.
Main Results:
- Vegan males exhibited significantly lower plasma taurine levels (45 +/- 7 mumol/L) compared to nonvegetarians (58 +/- 16 mumol/L).
- Urinary taurine excretion was markedly reduced in vegans (266 +/- 279 mumol/d) versus controls (903 +/- 580 mumol/d).
- Urinary N tau-methylhistidine was also significantly lower in vegans.
Conclusions:
- Prolonged absence of dietary taurine intake leads to decreased plasma taurine concentrations.
- Strict vegan diets result in severely restricted urinary taurine output.
- Vegan diets may require careful planning to ensure adequate nutrient intake, including taurine or its precursors.