Are You Dangerously Deficient in Taurine?
By Dr. Leonard Smith
Leonard Smith, M.D., is a renowned gastrointestinal, vascular and general
surgeon as well as an expert in the use of nutrition and natural supplementation.
As a surgeon, Dr. Smith has first-hand experience of the problems associated
with faulty digestion and the surgical necessities they can cause.
For the past 20 years, Dr. Smith has investigated many holistic medical
programs, including nutrition, exercise, chelation, stress management
and the relevance of mental and spiritual attitudes in healing. Acknowledging
the effectiveness of whole organic foods and nutritional supplementation,
Dr. Smith strives to stay on the leading edge of research and breakthroughs
in the field of functional nutrition.
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While most people have never heard of taurine, a deficiency in taurine can
contribute to a wide range of symptoms you have certainly heard of. Low taurine
levels have been found in patients with anxiety, depression, hypertension,
hypothyroidism, gout, infertility, obesity, kidney failure and autism, among
other conditions.
Taurine is an amino acid that can be made in your body from two other amino
acids: cysteine and methionine.
Adequate amounts of taurine can usually be obtained from animal and fish
protein, eggs and brewer's yeast (NOTE: if you have a viral or fungal infection,
eating brewer's yeast can cause allergic reactions).
Since taurine can be made in our bodies, it was thought to be a non-essential
amino acid … however in certain circumstances, it is actually considered
essential.
Taurine - What It Does For Your Body
Here are some of the key benefits of taurine in relation to your health.
Taurine is:
- Important in the visual pathways, the brain and nervous system, cardiac
function and prevention of irregular heartbeats.
- A conjugator of bile acids - helps increase cholesterol elimination in
the bile, helps with fat absorption and elimination of toxins.
- Important for it's role in renal development and protection of the kidneys
from free radical damage.
- A facilitator for the passage of sodium, potassium and possibly calcium
and magnesium ions into and out of cells.
- Protection for the heart from irregular rhythms and damage during shock.
- An antioxidant.
- Involved in the balance and control of white blood cell production of
free radicals to fight microbial infections.
- A calming or stabilizing effect on the brain and has been shown to be
useful in treating seizure disorders.
- An enhancer of performance for athletes.
Taurine Deficiency - Possible Causes
There are many reasons your body could be low in taurine - and if you are
an expecting mother, it's important to know how this could affect your baby.
Low taurine can occur if:
- Your body does not make enough taurine due to a deficiency in one or more
of the following:
o Cysteine and methionine (amino acids that make taurine in your body).
o Pyridoxal-5-phosphate (the active form of vitamin B6).
o Zinc (deficiency in zinc is common with elevated mercury levels).
o Vitamin A.
- You are Deficient in the enzyme needed to make taurine
o Many humans may not regularly produce a high level of the enzyme needed
to make taurine (cysteinsulfinic decarboxylase) and are therefore, dependent
on dietary sources.
o If you don't regularly consume meat, fish, eggs or brewer's yeast, you
could be low in taurine.
- You have candida
o If you have this systemic fungal infection, it produces an amino acid,
beta-alanine, which competes with taurine for reabsorption in the kidney.
o This causes you to lose taurine through your urine.
o An increase of taurine in urine actually masks a test for low taurine
in your body.
- You are infected with disease-producing anerobic bacteria
o These pathogenic bacteria interfere with the proper functioning of bile
acid and degrade taurine, thereby effecting taurine levels.
- You are eating foods with MSG, which degrades taurine
o MSG, or Monosodium glutamate, is a food additive that is used to enhance
the flavor of processed foods.
o Food labeling regulations do not require MSG to be labeled as such, which
means it can be hidden in foods that you eat.
Additionally, the following vitamins and amino acids may interfere with taurine's
functions:
o The B-vitamin pantothenic acid (B5).
o The amino acids beta-alanine and beta-hypotaurine.
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Taurine is essential for brain development in your fetus and newborn.
Candida and bacterial imbalances can block taurine -- learn how to prevent
and heal them with The
Body Ecology Diet.
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What Expecting Mothers Should Know
Taurine is an essential amino acid for a developing fetus and newborn
babies because they cannot make it themselves - and yet the development
of their brain depends on it.
In fact, taurine is the highest concentrated amino acid in the brain of the
fetus and newborn. The fetus must obtain it through the placenta and newborns
can obtain it from breast milk or formula fortified with taurine.
If a pregnant mother has chronic (even low grade) candida, bacterial imbalances
or elevated levels of mercury, lead and cadmium (which create zinc deficiency),
it could lead to taurine deficiency in the mother and baby.
Placental absorption of maternal taurine can also be blocked if the fetus
is under stress from both mercury and microbial challenges. This can set up
a condition where your baby's detoxification pathways are inhibited, which
could lead to neurological problems, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Taurine deficiency was found in 62% of autistic
children, according to one study.
Taurine Supplementation
There are situations in which supplementing with taurine is important. Clinically,
taurine has been used in the treatment of a wide variety of conditions, including:
cardiovascular diseases, epilepsy and other seizure disorders, macular degeneration,
Alzheimer's disease, hepatic disorders, and cystic fibrosis. An analog of
taurine, acamprosate, has been used as a treatment for alcoholism.
Taurine has also been used for migraines, insomnia, agitation, restlessness,
irritability, obsessions and depression.
But how do you know for sure if you are deficient in taurine and whether supplementation
is right for you? In next week's newsletter, I will cover how to accurately
determine taurine levels, how much to take and other supplements that can
enhance taurine production.
If you or someone you love has candida, bacterial imbalances and autism,
be sure to read The
Body Ecology Diet book.
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