Pharmacokinetics of Oral Taurine in Healthy Volunteers

Abstract

Taurine, a sulfur-containing amino acid, is a normal constituent of the human diet. Little is known of the pharmacokinetics of taurine in man after oral administration. We studied the pharmacokinetics of 4 g taurine in eight healthy male volunteers (median age 27.5, range 22–45) following orally administration in the fasting state in the morning. Blood samples were taken at regular intervals and plasma taurine concentration was measured by a modified HPLC method. Data were subjected to noncompartmental analysis. Maximum plasma taurine concentration (Cmax) was measured at 1.5 ± 0.6 hr after administration as 86.1 ± 19.0 mg/L (0.69 ± 0.15 mmol). Plasma elimination half-life (T1/2) and the ratio of clearance/bioavailability (Cl/F) were 1.0 ± 0.3 hr and 21.1 ± 7.8 L/hr, respectively. Since taurine is occasionally used in therapeutics as a medicine, the pharmacokinetics and effects of oral taurine in healthy volunteers would be useful in the future studies of taurine in pharmacology and nutrition.

Energy drink ingredients. Contribution of caffeine and taurine to performance outcomes

“…These results are not surprising, in that reviews of energy drink safety indicate that taurine primary role is to synthesise bile salts, generally offering physiological therapeutic benefits (Australia New Zealand Food Authority, 2001;European Food Safety Authority, 2009;Food Safety Promotion Board). However, as noted by Giles et al (2012), taurine peak plasma concentrations are typically not achieved until 60 minutes post-ingestion (Ghandforoush-Sattari, Mashayekhi, Krishna, & Routledge, 2010). As task administration commenced 45 minutes after capsule administration, any inferences regarding the independent effect of taurine based on the present results remain tentative.…”

Taurine: A Regulator of Cellular Redox Homeostasis and Skeletal Muscle Function

“…In mammals, basal plasma taurine concentrations are kept at relatively low levels, ranging from 10 to 100 µM in humans and 650 to 770 µM in mice . In humans, 1.5 h after oral administration of 4 g taurine, plasma concentrations can reach a peak of 530 µM . Taurine is ubiquitously distributed and its concentrations is much higher in tissue than in plasma.…”

Energy Beverages: Content and Safety

“…Plasma elimination half-life and the ratio of clearance to bioavailability were 1.0 hour and 21 L/h, respectively. 30 Taurine modulates skeletal muscle contractile function and may attenuate exercise-induced DNA damage, with some evidence showing the ability to improve exercise capacity and performance; however, this has not been definitively demonstrated. 4 Taurine has numerous other biological and physiologic functions, including bile acid conjugation and cholestasis prevention; antiarrhythmic, inotropic, and chronotropic effects; central nervous system neuromodulation; retinal development and function; endocrine or metabolic effects; and antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.…”