TAURINE FOR HEART DISEASES!
TAURINE FOR HEART DISEASES! 1. Taurine (2-aminoethane- sulfonic acid) is the most abundant free amino acid there is in our body [1]. It has various functions throughout the body such as regulation of cell volume, serving as substrate for the formation of bile salts and regulation of the concentration of extracellular free calcium and many cytoprotection effects (protection to the cells). 2. It’s deficiency is associated to cardiomyopathy, damages to the retinal neurons, renal dysfunction and developmental abnormalities. Hence, taurine is one of the most essential substances of the body [2]. 3. It can be found in food mostly in fish and shell fish and represents about 60% of the amino acids present in mammalian heart. The heart can make it’s own taurine, but the major myocardial uptake is from the plasma [3]. And although the taurine can be produced by the body, the main source of it is the food [4]. 4. Many benefits of taurine are due to it’s antioxidant a...