Original Article:
Effects and Mechanisms of Taurine as a Therapeutic Agent
Stephen Schaffer, et al.
Biomol Ther (Seoul). 2018, 26(3), 225-241.
10.4062/biomolther.2017.251
Taurine is an abundant beta-amino acid with various cytoprotective activities. The cytoprotective effects of taurine contribute to improved clinical and nutritional health in humans through multiple mechanisms, including antioxidant, energy metabolism, gene expression, ER stress, Ca2+ homeostasis, and osmoregulation.
This review summarizes the therapeutic role and effect of taurine in various diseases, including the following aspects:
(1) The effect of taurine on the central nervous system: taurine is used in the treatment of stroke, neurodegenerative diseases (such as Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's disease and Parkinson's disease), fragile X syndrome and succinic acid semi Aldehyde dehydrogenase deficiency, epilepsy, retinal degeneration.
(2) The effect of taurine on the cardiovascular system: Taurine is used to treat congestive heart failure, hypertension, atherosclerosis, ischemia-reperfusion injury, and myocardial arrhythmia.
(3) The role of taurine in metabolic diseases: taurine is used for mitochondrial disease (MELAS), diabetes mellitus, obesity.
(4) The effect of taurine on muscle: Taurine is used to regulate muscle contraction, sarcopenia, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and myotonic dystrophy.
Taurine plays a fundamental role in the function of most mammalian cells and thus exhibits potential as an effective therapeutic agent and nutritional supplement.
