The potential protective effects of taurine on coronary heart disease

Wójcik, Oktawia P.; Koenig, Karen L.; Zeleniuch-Jacquotte, Anne; Costa, Max; Chen, Yu

doi:10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2009.06.002

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Volume 208, Issue 1 , Pages 19-25, January 2010

The potential protective effects of taurine on coronary heart disease☆

Oktawia P. Wójcik
- Department of Environmental Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
Karen L. Koenig
- Department of Environmental Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
Anne Zeleniuch-Jacquotte
- Department of Environmental Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
- New York University Cancer Institute, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
Max Costa
- Department of Environmental Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
- New York University Cancer Institute, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
Yu Chen
- Department of Environmental Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
- New York University Cancer Institute, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
- Corresponding author at: New York University School of Medicine, 650 First Avenue, 5th Floor, Room 510, New York, NY 10016-3240, USA. Tel.: +1 212 263 4839; fax: +1 212 263 8570.

Received 17 October 2008; received in revised form 29 May 2009; accepted 2 June 2009. published online 10 July 2009.

Abstract

In humans, taurine (2-aminoethanesulfonic acid) is mainly obtained from diet. Despite the fact that the health effects of taurine are largely unknown, taurine has become a popular supplement and ingredient in energy drinks in recent years. Evidence from mechanistic and animal studies has shown that the main biological actions of taurine include its ability to conjugate bile acids, regulate blood pressure (BP), and act as a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent. These actions suggest that high levels of taurine may be protective against coronary heart disease (CHD). However, data from epidemiologic and intervention studies in humans are limited. We review what is known about taurine's metabolism, its transportation in the body, its food sources, and evidence of its effect on cardiovascular health from in vitro, animal, and epidemiologic studies. We also discuss shortcomings of the human studies that need to be addressed in the future. The identification of taurine as a preventive factor for CHD may be of great public health importance.

Keywords: Taurine, Coronary heart disease, Cholesterol, Blood pressure, Antioxidant