Taurine
Taurine is a semi-essential aminosulfonic acid possessing biological activities in the CNS. Its antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and neuromodulatory properties and beneficial impact on mitochondrial function make it highly relevant for neurodegenerative diseases, as demonstrated in cellular and animal models1,2.
An analog of taurine, homotaurine, has been studied in animal models of MS. A dose of 100 mg/kg was associated with neurological improvement and a reduction in inflammatory lesions and the extent of CNS demyelination. At a dose of 0.25 mg/ml of drinking water (about 4 mg/day), homotaurine was shown to improve clinical disease score and prevent progression. It was associated with reduced autoimmune cell invasion and areas of myelin loss in the brain and spinal cord, as well as increased Tregs compared to controls3. In a similarly designed study with the same dose, homocysteine was shown to meliorate advanced-stage relapse-remitting disease, including prevention of anticipated relapses. Homotaurine given after the first incidence of paralysis reduced the spreading of autoimmune responses to myelin-producing antigens in the CNS3.
Taurine itself was found to be necessary for the differentiation and maturation of oligodendrocytes, cells that are responsible for myelin production and assembly around the nerves. The addition of taurine 20 mM to oligodendrocyte precursor cells was found to dramatically enhance those critical processes, as well as improve cell survival4.
In an animal model of the inborn disorder “tubulinopathy,” also involving demyelination as well as low myelination, taurine at a dose of 0.05 mg/ml of drinking water was associated with decreased inflammatory and oxidative compounds, greater myelination, and improved reflexes, muscular strength, and mobility compared to controls5.
A safe level of taurine consumption is considered to be up to 6 g/day6. In comparison, among people who eat both plant based and animal products, a daily intake of between 9 and 400 mg of taurine has been estimated, with an average of approximately 100 mg/day among pregnant women. Of note, increased maternal taurine intake was associated with increased offspring length at birth7.
Taurine is high in animal foods such as poultry (the dark parts), red meat, seafood (especially shellfish)1, and eggs, and is available as a nutritional supplement globally. Homotaurine is found in edible seaweed such as forkweed and Sargassum8, and is available as a nutritional supplement in the United Kingdom and Europe.
References
1.Jakaria M, Azam S, Haque ME, et al. Taurine and its analogs in neurological disorders: Focus on therapeutic potential and molecular mechanisms. Redox Biol. Jun 2019;24:101223. doi:10.1016/j.redox.2019.101223
2.Sternberg Z, Cesario A, Rittenhouse-Olson K, et al. Acamprosate modulates experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. Inflammopharmacology. Feb 2012;20(1):39-48. doi:10.1007/s10787-011-0097-1
3.Tian J, Dang H, Wallner M, Olsen R, Kaufman DL. Homotaurine, a safe blood-brain barrier permeable GABAA-R-specific agonist, ameliorates disease in mouse models of multiple sclerosis. Sci Rep. Nov 8 2018;8(1):16555. doi:10.1038/s41598-018-32733-3
4.Beyer BA, Fang M, Sadrian B, et al. Metabolomics-based discovery of a metabolite that enhances oligodendrocyte maturation. Nat Chem Biol. Jan 2018;14(1):22-28. doi:10.1038/nchembio.2517
5.Vargas-Castro V, Gomez-Diaz R, Blanco-Alvarez VM, et al. Long-term taurine administration improves motor skills in a tubulinopathy rat model by decreasing oxidative stress and promoting myelination. Mol Cell Neurosci. Sep 2021;115:103643. doi:10.1016/j.mcn.2021.103643
6.EFSA Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP). Scientific Opinion on the safety and efficacy of taurine as a feed additive for all animal species. EFSA J. 2012;10(6)
7.Jung YM, Choi MJ. Relation of Taurine Intake During Pregnancy and Newborns’ Growth. Adv Exp Med Biol. 2019;1155:283-292. doi:10.1007/978-981-13-8023-5_27
8.Mehdinia A, Fumani, N.S., Kayyal, T.B., Ghaderiardakani, F. Homotaurine of marine macroalgae of the Persian Gulf as a potential treatment agent for Alzheimer. Journal of the Persian Gulf (Marine Science). 2018;9(31):1-8.