Taurine is a type of amino acid that is synthesized in our body. It is also obtained through our diet from high-protein foods. Taurine plays a role in various physiological and metabolic functions. Although higher circulating levels of taurine has been associated with lower dementia risk, clinical trials testing taurine interventions have not shown benefits to cognitive function in humans. While taurine supplementation is generally thought to be safe, it does interact with some medications, alcohol, and caffeine.
While numerous clinical trials have investigated the effects of taurine on cognitive function, the studies have been small and the formulations and doses of taurine have varied across studies. Our search identified:
Higher blood taurine levels have been associated with lower risk of dementia [1]. However, clinical trials testing taurine interventions have not yielded cognitive benefits so far. A meta-analysis of seven randomized controlled trials testing various formulations, doses, and durations of taurine treatment reported there was no overall effect of taurine intervention on cognitive function [2]. The meta-analysis showed that taurine alone or taurine combined with exercise did not lead to significant improvements on cognitive function. In addition, the combination of taurine with therapeutic drugs (in people with conditions such as psychosis or dementia) did not produce greater improvements on cognitive function than therapeutic drugs alone. Clinical trials of taurine to date have included small numbers of participants testing various formulations, combinations, and doses of taurine. Larger, longer-duration, rigorously designed clinical trials are needed to further evaluate the effects of taurine on cognitive function.
In an open-label controlled clinical study of 46 elderly women with dementia, an intervention including taurine for 4 weeks improved dementia scores compared to baseline [3]. However, because this was an open-label study and the scores were not directly compared with those of the control group, cognitive score improvements could be due to placebo effects and/or practice effects. To date, no rigorously designed randomized controlled trials have evaluated the efficacy of taurine in dementia patients.
Taurine is a natural compound synthesized in our body and is present in many high-protein foods, such as dark meat and seafood [4]. Clinical trials have reported that taurine treatment (usually 1-6 g/day) is generally well-tolerated [5; 6; 7]. Adverse events such as gastrointestinal discomfort, headache, and fatigue were mild and comparable to those experienced with placebo treatment [8; 9; 10].
Taurine may interact with anti-hypertensive medications, anesthetics, acetaminophen, phenobarbital, and other medications [4; 11]. It is worth noting that energy drinks that contain taurine may cause a different collection of adverse events as they contain many compounds beyond taurine, such as caffeine. Studies have shown that energy drinks that contain taurine and caffeine may increase blood pressure, heart rate, and an electrocardiogram measure associated with heart arrhythmia (QTc prolongation) [12; 13].
NOTE: This is not a comprehensive safety evaluation or complete list of potentially harmful drug interactions. It is important to discuss safety issues with your physician before taking any new supplement or medication.
Taurine can be obtained from the diet, such as dark meat, seafood (scallops, clams, octopi, abalone, and fish), dairy products, and seaweed [4]. Taurine is also available as a supplement and is often an ingredient in energy drinks. Most clinical trials have tested taurine doses between 1-6 grams, daily, orally. For athletic performance, ingestion 60-120 minutes before exercise may be recommended for peak taurine bioavailability [14].
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