• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.28 no.9
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• pp.846-854
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• 1995

Taurine concentrations in blood and various tissues were measured in cats fed normal trurine diet(0.15% taurine) and trurine-free diet(0% taurine) for 5 weeks and 12 weeks, respectively. Cumulative body weight gain in young cats fed normal taurine diet and taurine-free diet for the initial 5 weeks were 463$\pm$43g and 383$\pm$53g respectively. Taurine concentration was one to two orders magnitude higher in most tissues than in plasma, among which the liver taurine-free diet for 12 weeks resulted in 98% reduction in plasma taurine concentration, 93% reduction in whole blood tarurine concentration, and 40~90% reduction in tissue taurine concentrations compared to the values for normal taurine diet group. Among the tissues tested, taurine depletion was most profound in heart and kidney, while liver and intestine were relatively resistant to taurine depletion. Whole blood taruined concentration appeared to be a better index for the body taurine status of cats as in more closely reflects the rate of taurine depletion in tissues. Taurine depletion in cats significantly increased the concentrations of essential and non-essential free amino acids in liver, while free amino acid concentrations in other tissues were not affected by taurine depletion.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.9-15
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• 1999

Taurine contents in alcoholic and non alcoholic beverages, milk and milk products, sugars and condiments were determined for 83 food items commonly used by Koreans. Taurine concentrations of food samples were analyzed by using an automated amino acid analyzer(Biochrom 20, Pharmacia LKB) based on ion exchange chromatography. Taurine was not detected in most carbonated beverages, but found in a variety of fruit and vegetable beverages(canned) in the range of 0.13 ~1.43mg taurine/ 100g wt, and in instant coffee or tea beverages(canned) in the range of 0.10~0.41mg taurine/100g wt. The traditional Korean turbid rice wine(takju) sample contained the highest level of taurine (2.29mg/100g wt) among alcoholic beverages tested, which was followed by wine(0.59~0.88mg tau rine/100g wt) and beer(0.53~0.73mg taurine/100g wt). Ordinary milk samples contained 1.05~1.40 mg taurine/100g wt, and a variety of taurine supplemented infant formulas manufactured by Korean companies included 17.3~25.4mg taurine/100g wt. Taurine was not detected in most sugars and sweetners except a couple of chocolate samples(2.13~2.18mg taurine/100g wt). Exceptionally high level of taurine was found in a curry powder sample(16.9mg taurine/100g wt), while the rest of commonly used condiments contained less than 2.90mg taurine/100g wt.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.39 no.12
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• pp.1814-1818
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• 2010

The present study was carried out to elucidate the changes in the chemical characteristics of taurine added Kimchi during fermentation for 46 days at $6^{\circ}C$. Chinese cabbage was brined in a 10% salt solution for the control Kimchi and in a 10% salt solution containing 5% taurine for taurine added Kimchi (Taurine I, II, and III). One and three percent (w/w, based on Chinese cabbage) of taurine were added to make Taurine II and Taurine III, respectively. Reducing sugar and vitamin C contents for all the samples decreased after the 46-day fermentation. Taurine was not detected in the control, and the taurine contents, from the largest to the smallest, during the fermentation period were Taurine III, Taurine II and Taurine I. Amino nitrogen contents in all the samples studied proportionally increased during the 46-day fermentation. It is suggested that taurine does not affect the chemical characteristics of Kimchi during fermentation at low temperature ($6^{\circ}C$).

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.479-484
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• 2009

This study investigated the characteristics of baking bread and cookies supplemented with taurine and the effect of taurine addition on BAC(blood alcohol concentrations) and UAC(urine alcohol concentrations). Healthy male college students were divided into two groups, the control and the taurine group. Bread was baked with the addition of 0, 2, 4 and 6% taurine and baked with the addition 0, 3 and 6% taurine. The bread containing 2% taurine showed the fastest fermentation among the 4 groups. Fermentation and oven-spring of breads baked with a taurine concentration greater than 4% of taurine disturbed. In some areas of the sensory test, the taurine supplemented bread had higher scores than the control bread. We served 6 g of taurine supplemented cookies with 1,000 $m{\ell}$ of beer to 8 students in the taurine group. After 2 hours of drinking beer, the BAC and UAC of the taurine group were found to be lower than the control group. But no difference was found in the alcohol excretion of their urine. From this study we concluded that the taurine has an effect on the detoxication of alcohol, which reduces the BAC.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.137-141
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• 2002

Taurine, amino acid, chemically known as 2-amino ethane sulphonic acid was discovered more than two hundred years ago from ox bile. it is widely distributed in both mammals and nonmammals. It is found in considerably high amount in hUl11an: a normal adult of 70 kgs contains about 70 grams of taurine. Taurine with this much concentration, is involved in almost all life processes. Its deficiency causes several abnormalities in major organs like brain, eye and heart. Taurine-bone interaction is latest addition to its long list of actions. In bone cells, taurine is also found in high concentration. Taurine is found to help in enhancing the bone tissue formation which is evidenced by increased matrix formation and collagen synthesis. Besides stimulating the bone tissue formation, it also inhibits the bone loss through inhibiting the bone resorption and osteoclast formation. Thus, taurine acts as a double agent. In addition to these two major actions of taurine in bone, it also has beneficial effect in wound healing mld bone repair. Taurine possess radioprotective properties, too. As it is a naturally available molecule, it can be used as a preventive agent. Taurine has a potential to replace bisphosphonates which are currently in use for the inhibition of bone loss but this needs in depth study. As taurine is involved in bone formation and inhibition of bone loss, a detailed study can make it a single marker of bone metabolism. All these taurine-bone interaction is a symbol of their deep involvement but still require further extension to make taurine as a choice for tile sound bone health.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.440-448
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• 2001

As diverse physiological functions of taurine have been reported, taurine-containing health drinks and products are marketed worldwide for the treatment of various conditions such as improvements of liver, heart and circulatory functions or as an aid to athletic performance. Although animal studies have shown that taurine is fairly safe when supplemented in the diet for an extended period, the effective dose range of taurine for dietary supplements is in controversy. Reports on dietary taurine intakes have been sparse, and would serve as a guideline for determining an appropriate taurine dosage. The present study was aimed to estimate dietary intake level of taurine using the taurine content database of commonly used food stuffs established recently in our laboratory, and also to evaluate plasma concentration and urinary excretion of taurine in adolescents and adults residing in Seoul area. Dietary taurine intakes of the subjects were 219$\pm$16.9mg/day for 16-19 years old(n=123), 177$\pm$18.1mg/day for adults older than 20 years old(n=123). Male subjects(n=115) consumed 216$\pm$21.1mg of taurine/day, while female subjects(n=131) consumed 181$\pm$14.3mg of taurine/day(p<0.05). The level of dietary taurine intake was positively correlated with the levels of dietary intakes of energy, carbohydrate, total lipids, cholesterol, vitamin A, vitamin B$_1$, niacin, vitamin C, calcium, phosphorous, sodium and potassium at p<0.01, and with dietary intakes of iron and animal lipids at p<0.05, respectively. Plasma taurine concentration of subjects were 135$\pm$5.9$\mu$mol/L, which is considered to be within a normal range for healthy subjects. The subjects excreted 1158$\pm$72.7nmol/ of tarine mg creatinine in their urine, which is approximated as 150-170mg of taurine/24hr urine based on the assumption that 18mg creatinine/kg/day is excreted in the urine of healthy adults, and this would be about 80% of the daily taurine intake observed in the same subjects. Dietary taurine intake level was positively correlated with plasma taurine concentration, as well as with urinary taurine excretion corrected by creatinine excretion at p<0.05. The present study was the first report of taurine intake, and plasma concentration and urinary excretion of taurine in a Korean population so far, and these results would serve as an index for the future study evaluating taurine status in a diverse population within and outside Korea. (Korean J Nutrition 34(4) : 440~448, 2001)

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.7-20
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• 1995

Taurine, a ${\beta}-amino$ acid, plays an important role as a neuromodulator and is necessary for the normal development of the brain. Since de novo synthesis of taurine in the brain is minimal and in vivo studies suggest that taurine dose not cross the blood-brain barrier, we examined whether the choroid plexus, the blood-cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) barrier, plays a role in taurine transport in the central nervous system. The uptake of $[^3H]-taurine$ into ATP depleted choroid plexus from rabbit was substantially greater in the presence of an inwardly directed $Na^+$ gradient taurine accumulation was negligible. A transient in side-negative potential gradient enhanced the $Na^+-driven$ uptake of taurine into the tissue slices, suggesting that the transport process is electrogenic, $Na^+-driven$ taurine uptake was saturable with an estimated $V_{max}$ of $111\;{\pm}\;20.2\;nmole/g/15\;min$ and a $K_M\;of\;99.8{\pm}29.9\;{\mu}M$. The estimated coupling ratio of $Na^+$ and taurine was $1.80\;{\pm}\;0.122.$ $Na^+-dependent$ taurine uptake was significantly inhibited by ${\beta}-amino$ acids, but not by ${\alpha}-amino$ acids, indicating that the transporter is selective for ${\beta}-amino$ acids. Since it is known that the physiological concentration of taurine in the CSF is lower than that in the plasma, the active transport system we characterized may face the brush border (i.e., CSF facing) side of the choroid plexus and actively transport taurine out of the CSF. Therefore, we examined in vivo elimination of taurine from the CSF in the rat to determine whether elimination kinetics of taurine from the CSF is consistent with the in vitro study. Using a stereotaxic device, cannulaes were placed into the lateral ventricle and the cisterna magna of the rat. Radio-labelled taurine and inulin (a marker of CSF flow) were injected into the lateral ventricle, and the concentrations of the labelled compounds in the CSF were monitored for upto 3 hrs in the cisterna magna. The apparent clearance of taurine from CSF was greater than the estimated CSF flow (p<0.005) indicating that there is a clearance process in addition to the CSF flow. Taurine distribution into the choroid plexus was at least 10 fold higher than that found in other brain areas (e. g., cerebellum, olfactory bulb and cortex). When unlabelled taurine was co-administered with radio-labelled taurine, the apparent clearance of taurine was reduced (p<0.0l), suggesting a saturable disposition of taurine from CSF. Distribution of taurine into the choroid plexus, cerebellum, olfactory bulb and cortex was similarly diminished, indicating that the saturable uptake of taurine into these tissues is responsible for the non-linear disposition. A pharmacokinetic model involving first order elimination and saturable distribution described these data adequately. The Michaelis-Menten rate constant estimated from in vivo elimination study is similar to that obtained in the in vitro uptake experiment. Collectively, our results demonstrate that taurine is transported in the choroid plexus via a $Na^+-dependent,saturable$ and apparently ${\beta}-amino$ acid selective mechanism. This process may be functionally relevant to taurine homeostasis in the brain.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 1996.11a
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• pp.99-113
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• 1996

Taurine, a ${\beta}$-amino acid, plays an important role as a neuromodulator and is necessary for the normal development of the brain. Since de novo synthesis of taurine in the brain is minimal and in vivo studies suggest that taurine does not cross the blood-brain barrier, the blood-cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) barrier is likely to play a role in taurine transport between the central nervous system and the systemic circulation. Therefore, we examined in vivo elimination of taurine from the CSF in the rat to characterize in vivo kinetics of elimination for taurine from the CSF is consistent with the in vitro study. Using a stereotaxic device, cannulaes were placed into the lateral ventricle and the cisterna magna of the rat. Radio-labelled taurine and inulin (a marker of CSF flow) were injected into the lateral ventricle, and the concentrations of the labelled compounds in the CSF were monitored for up to 3 hrs in the cisterna magna. The apparent clearance of taurine from CSF was greater than the estimated CSF flow (p<0.005), indicating that there is a clearance process in addition to the CSF flow. Taurine distribution into the choroid plexus was at least 10 fold higher than that found in other brain areas (e.g., cerebellum, olfactory bulb and cortex). When unlabelled taurine was co-administered with radio-labelled taurine, the apparent clearance of the labeled taurine was reduced (p<0.01), suggesting a saturable disposition of taurine from CSF. Distribution of taurine into the choroid plexus, cerebellum, olfactory bulb and cortex was similarly diminished, indicating that the saturable uptake of taurine into these tissues is responsible for the non-linear disposition. A pharmacokinetic model involving first order elimination and saturable distribution described these data adequately. The Michaelis-Menten rate constant estimated from in vivo elimination study is similar to that obtained in the in vitro uptake experiment Collectively, our results demonstrate that taurine is transported in the choroid plexus via a taurine is cleared from the CSF via a saturable process. This process may be functionally relevant to taurine homeostasis in the brain.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.438-442
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• 2004

This study was conducted to investigate the chemical and microbiological properties of taurine added Kimchi during fermentation at 20℃. A control group was salted with 10% brine solution, and a taurine group was salted with 10% brine solution including 5 ％ taurine and was divided into two groups depending on added taurine concentration after brining; 0% taurine (Taurine I) and 3 ％ taurine added (Taurine II). The pH of Kimchi was markedly decreased over time in all groups and there was no significant difference between groups. Total acidity was the highest in Taurine II followed by Taurine I and. control group during five days of fermentation. The number of total microbe and lactic acid bacteria showed increase similarly in all groups.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.150-157
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• 2001

Intestinal absorption of dietary taurine is one of the regulatory component maintaining taurine homeostasis along with renal reabsorption, bile acid conjugation and secretion, and de nobo synthesis of taurine in mammals. Recent observations of decreased enterocytic levels of taurine in response to trauma, infection and surgical insults, postulate the possibility that intestinal taurine absorption might be impaired in such stressed conditions. The aim of the present study was to evaluate changes in enterocytic taurine transporter activity using the human intestinal colon carcinoma cell line, HT-29, in various stress-induced conditions. Pretreatment of the HT-29 cells with dexamethasone, a stress hormone(0.1,1,10 or 100$\mu$M) for 3 hrs, or with E coli heat-stable enterotoxin(10, 100, or 200nM) for 30 minutes in order to induce the condition of enterotoxigenic infection did not influence taurine uptake as compared to the value found in control cells. In contrast, pretreatment of the cells with cholera toxin(10, 100, 500, or 1000ng/ml)for 3hr or 24hr significantly decreased taurine uptake by HT-29 cells to 40~50% of the value found in untreated control cells. Kinetic studies of the taurine transporter activity were conducted in control and cholera toxin treated HT-29 cells with varying taurine concentrations(2~60$\mu$M) in the uptake medium. Pretreatment of the cells with cholera toxin(100ng/ml) for 3hr did not influence the Vmax, but resulted in a 55% increase in the Michaelis-Menten constant(Km) of the taurine transporter compared to those in control cells. These results suggest that cholera toxin-induced reduction in taurine transporter activity in HT-29 cells is associated with decreased affinity of the taurine transporter without altering the amount of transporter protein. Intestinal taurine absorption appears to be reduced in the condition of water-borne diseases caused by bacteria such as V. cholerae. This might influence the taurine status of infants and young children more readily, an age group in which the prevalence of intestinal infection is high and the role of intestinal absorption is crucial for maintaining the body taurine pool. (Korean J Nutrition 34(2) : 150-157, 2001)