Table 1.
Human studies assessing the association between taurine and various diseases
| Study | Study design | Dosage and intervention | Beneficial effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mizushima et al. (1996)21 | 18–29-Year-old male adults (n = 22); randomized control trial (Japan) | High-cholesterol diet accompanied by 6 g of taurine or placebo/day for 3 weeks; Evaluation of total cholesterol, LDL-C, and norepinephrine levels | Taurine supplementation reduced total cholesterol and LDL-C levels. Moreover, it significantly reduced norepinephrine level in the taurine-treated group compared to the placebo group. |
| Liu et al. (2001)23 | Han (n = 775), Tibetan (n = 125), Kazak (n = 204), Uygur (n = 510) subjects aged between 49–54 years; cross-sectional study | NA Correlation of taurine excretion with blood pressure |
A positive correlation between decreased DBP and taurine supplementation was seen in Han and Tibetan subjects, whereas no such correlation was evident in Uygur and Kazak subjects. |
| Milei et al. (1992)25 | 12 Subjects with angina aged 30–60 years; randomized controlled trial | 5 g taurine or placebo 1–3 hours before CABG Evaluation of oxidative stress |
Ratio of reperfusion and pre-ischemic sample means was significantly reduced in the taurine group (1.12) compared with the placebo group (2.45) |
| Mizushima et al. (1997)24 | 433 Subjects from Japan and 269 subjects from Brazil aged 45–59 years; cross-sectional study | NA Evaluation of hypercholesterolemia hypertension |
Hypercholesterolemia prevalence was significantly different between Japanese (5.8%) and Brazilian (28.3%) men, while hypertension was significantly different between Japanese women (14%) and Brazilian women (32.0%); this was attributed to higher consumption of fish high in taurine by Japanese residents. |
| Rosa et al. (2014)26 | 16 Obese and 8 normal weight women (n = 24); randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study | Placebo with 3 g/day starch flour or 3 g/day taurine supplementation | Taurine supplementation restored taurine level in the obese group and decreased markers of inflammation |
| Zhang et al. (2004)22 | Overweight and obese college students (n = 30) aged 20–22 years; double-blind randomization | Taurine 3 g/day or placebo taken orally for 7 weeks | Taurine-supplemented group showed decrease in body weight, TG content, and AI index |
LDL-C, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol; NA, not applicable; DBP, diastolic blood pressure; CABG, coronary artery bypass graft; TG, triglyceride; AI, atherogenic index.