Taurine: its biological role and clinical implications.

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Physiology
• Clinical Nutrition

Background:

• Taurine is a highly abundant free amino acid within intracellular water, particularly in cardiac tissue.
• Despite its abundance, the precise physiological functions of taurine are not fully understood.
• Existing knowledge points to roles in bile acid conjugation, osmoregulation, and retinal function.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the known roles of taurine and stimulate further research into its clinical applications.
• To highlight the discrepancy between taurine's abundance and our incomplete understanding of its functions.
• To encourage more definitive research on taurine's physiological significance.

Main Methods:

• Literature review and discussion of experimental models involving taurine.
• Analysis of taurine's role in bile acid conjugation across different age groups.
• Examination of taurine's potential functions as an osmoregulator and its importance in retinal health.

Main Results:

• Taurine conjugation of bile acids is significant in neonates but shows minimal changes in adults with supplementation.
• Taurine's role as an osmoregulator is supported by evidence in fish and potential roles in the brain under osmotic stress.
• Taurine is crucial for retinal function and development, explaining its presence in breast milk and infant formulas.

Conclusions:

• Taurine's functions, beyond bile acid conjugation, are not definitively established, with current evidence suggesting roles in osmoregulation and vision.
• Further comprehensive research is required to elucidate the full spectrum of taurine's physiological roles and clinical potential.
• The addition of taurine to infant formulas underscores its recognized importance in development, particularly retinal development.