• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.158-165
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• 1999

Effects of oral taurine supplementation (6g/day) on plasma concentration and urinary of free amino acids were evaluated in healthy female adults. Among twenty five female volunteers(23.6$\pm$0.3 years old) participated in the taurine supplementation program, twenty four subjects successfully completed the two supplementation program. Plasma and urinary levels of free amino acids were determined by using an automated amino acid analyzer based on ion-exchange chromatography. Two weeks of taurine supplementation resulted in a 65% increase in plasma taurine concentration (p<0.001), Changes in fasting plasma amino acid concentrations followed by taurine supplementation were not spectacular, and were all within the normal range for human aldults. Taurine supplementation significantly elevated urinary methionine, asparagine, hydorxyproline and phosphoserine excretions(31~280%), and significantly decreased the urinary excretions of isoleucine, glutamate and serine compared to the values prior to taurine supplementation. For almost every individual amino acids, 24 hr urinary excretion level was significantly correlated to the urinary excretion value expressed as nmol/mg creatinine(p<0.001). A significant negative correlation found between plasma glutamine concentration and urinary glutamine excretion level suggests that the decrease in plasma glutamine concentration might be associated with the enhanced glutamine excretion in urine followed by taurine supplementation.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.126-134
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• 1998

Our previous study demonstrated that dietary taurine or glycine supplementation significantly lowered plasma and hepatic cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations in rats fed a cholesterol-free diet. In the present study, the effect of long term dietary taurine or glycine supplementation, for the purpose of preventing and/or treating of hyperlipidemia and other known biological functions, on plasma and hepatic free amino acid concentrations and profiles were evaluated in rats. Three groups of male rats(110-130g) were fed a control diet(CD), taurine-supplemented diets(TSD ; CD+ 1.5% taurine) or glycine-supplemented diet(GSD ; CD+1.5% glycine) for 5 weeks. Plasma and hepatic free amino acid concentrations were determined by an automated amino acid analyzer based on ion-exchange chormatography. The feeding of TSD for 5 weeks yielded a 444% higher plasma taurine concentration , and the feeding GSD for the same period resulted in a 143% higher plasma glycine level in rats compared to those fed DB. Hepatic taurine concentration was significantly higher in rats fed TSD(145% increase) compared to the control rats. However, hepatic glycine concentration was not influenced by dietary glycine supplementation , which implies that the massive dose of glycine entering the body was more rapidly metabolized or excreted than taurein. Dietary taurine or glycine supplementation resulted in similar changes in plasma free amino acid concentrations, except in levels of taurine and glycine. Plasma levels of histidine, lysine, phenylalanine , alanine, proline, hydroxypoline, $\alpha$-aminogutyric acid, cystathionine and ethanolamine were significantly higher in rats fed TSD or GSD than those fed GD. Glycine supplementation did not change hepatic free amino acid concentrations as compared to CD. Concentrations of most hepatic free amino acids were not influenced by dietary taurine supplementation with the exception of significantly higher levels of asparate and tyrosine(56-63% increase) and lower levels of histidine and glutamate(33-34% decrease) compared to the control rats. These results suggest long-term dietary taurine or glycine supplementation resulted in increases in most plasma free amino acid levels, but did not cause a characteristic change in plasma aminogram pattern compared to rats fed CD.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.33 no.7
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• pp.745-754
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• 2000

Effects of oral taurine supplementation (6g/day)for 2-4 weeks on activities of red blood cell(RBC)total superoxide dismutase (SOD) and plasma glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px) and the level of malondialdehyde(MDA) were evaluated in healthy female adults (23.6$\pm$0.3 years old). Compared to the value for 0 week plasma GSH-Px activity of the subjects was significantly lower after 2 weeks of taurine supplementation(p<0.05) and recovered to the value similar to 0 week after 4 weeks of taurine supplementation. RBC total SOD activity tended to be decreased after 2 weeks of taurine supplmentation compared to the values for 0 week although the difference between the means of the two group was not statistically significant. Plasma MDA level was not significantly decreased by taurine supplementation most probably due to the fact that the subjects participated in the present study were healthy and their antioxidant defense system had been in the 'normal' range. Plasma MDA concentration was negatively correlated with plasma taurine concentration(r=-0.2003m p<0.05) but tended to be positively correlated with plasma cholesterol concentration(r=0.2465, p=0.0645) as expected Plasma GSH-Px activity was positively associated with the percentage of 22:0 (r=0.2892, p<0.05) or 20:4w6(r=0.2939, p<0.05). On the other hand plasma MDA concentration was positively correlated with the percentage of 20:5w3 in plasma total lipids(r=0.2635 p<0.05) and negatively correlated with $\Delta$5 desaturation index of w6 fatty acids(20:3w6⇒20:4w6) in plamsa total lipids(r=-0.2714, p<0.05) as well as in phospholipids(r=-0.2864, p<0.05). From these results protective effect of taurine supplementation against lipid peroxidation and antioxidant defense system in humans appears to be minimal when the subjects are in a relatively healthy state. Further studies concerning the antioxidant efficacy of taurine should be conducted in human subjects under various disease states related to oxidative stress such as diabetes and artheroxclerosis.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.31 no.8
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• pp.1315-1323
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• 1998

Effect of oral taurine supplementation on plasma total and phospholidpid -fatty acid profiles and their metabolism were evaluated in healthy female adults. Among twenty five female volunteers(23.6$\pm$0.3 years old ) participated in the taruine supplementation program(6g taurine /day), twenty four subjects succesfully completed the 2 week program , and only nine subjects continued to take taurine for another 2 weeks. Levels of plasma fatty acids and taruine were measured by gas-liquid chromatobraphy and an automated amino acid analyzer based on ion exchange chromatography, respectively. Plasma taurine concentration s of the subjects were 108. 7$\pm$3.4 , 184.2$\pm$8.2 and 235.9$\pm$77.0$\mu$emol/L at 0 , 2 and 4 weeks of taurine supplementation. Fatty acid compositions and elongation and desaturation indices of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in plasma total lipids were not influenced by oral taurine supplementation. However, fatty acid compositions and their metabolism in plasma phospholipids were significantly affected by taurine supplementation in female adults. Compared to the values for 0 week, the percentage of saturated fatty acids (SFA) in plasma phospholipid was significantly lowered at 2 weeks, but elevated at 4 weeks of taurine supplementation. In contrast , the percentage of phospholipid PUFA significantly increased at 2 weeks and decreased at 4 weeks of taurine supplementation from to the values for 0 weeks. Foru weeks of oral taurine supplementation signifinatly elevated the eongation index(20 : 4$\omega$6 ⇒22 : 4 $\omega$6, p<0.01), and decreased the desaturation index (20 : 3 $\omega$6 ⇒20 : 4 $\omega$6 , p<0.01) of $\omega$6 fatty acids in plasma phospholipids. Plasma taurine concentration was positively correlated with the percentage of 14 : 0 fatty acids and the enlongation index o f$\omega$3 fatty acids(20 : 5 $\omega$3 ⇒22 : 5 $\omega$3), and thenegatively correlated with the percentage of 20 : 0 in plasma phospholipids. These results indicate that oral taurine supplementation for 4 weeks signidicantly elelvated the percentage of SFA, and lowered the percentage of PUFA in plasma phospholipids with no influence on plasm total fatty aicd composition in healthy female adults.

• 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 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 Nutrition and Health
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• v.30 no.10
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• pp.1132-1139
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• 1997

The effect of dietary taurine supplementation on plasma and hepatic lipid concentrations were evaluated in rats fed one of the following two cholesterol-free diets for 5 weeks ; a control diet(CD : cholesterol -free and taurine -fee diet) and a taurine supplemented diet(TSD : CD + 1.5% taurine). There were no significant differences in liver weight and cummulative body weight gains between the groups at the end of the experimental period .However, the liver weight to body weight ratio was significantly decreased (p<0.05) by dietary taurine supplementation. Plasma concentrations of total cholesterol , LDL-cholesterol and triglyceride were significantly reduced(37%, 26% and 53% respectively) in rats fed TSD compared to those fed CD. There were no significant differences in plasma free fatty acid and total phospolipid levels between the two groups. Feeding TSD to the rats significantly reduced their hepatic triglyceride concentration(43% decrease , p<0.001) but elevated their hepatic free fatty acid level(77% increase, p<0.001) as compared to the control rats. Liver cholesterol concentration was not significantly influenced by the dietary taurine supplementation. Dietary taurine supplementation significantly reduced the percentage of phosphatidylcholine and phosp-atidylethanolamine, but elevated the prospholipids in the liver homogenates as compared to the values for the CD rats. These results suggest the possible roles of taurine as a hypochlesterolmic and hypotriglyceride agent in rats fed a cholesterol-free diets.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.440-449
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of taurine supplementation on serum lipidperoxide(TBARS), a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. The subjects were 22 healthy middle-aged women(33 to 54 years). Serum lipids, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances(TBARS), and plasma taurine levels were measured before and after supplying 3 g of taurine per day for 4 weeks. Plasma taurine was analyzed by Dabsyl-Cl(4-dimethylamino azobenzen-4-sulfonyl-chloride) derivatization and reversed-phase HPLC. Serum TBARS was measured by the Yagi method. Daily dietary taurine intake was calculated by food frequency questionnaire method. The weight and height means of the 22 subjects were $57.9{\pm}5.2$ kg and $159.2{\pm}5.2$ cm, respectively. Their percent body fat and waist/hip ratio(WHR) were 26.8% and 0.84, respectively, which were slightly higher than the average for middle-aged Korean women. Serum TC, TG and LDL-C levels tended to decrease after taurine supplementation, but HDL-C was not changed. A positive correlation between plasma taurine and HDL-C was shown after taurine supplementation. The serum TBARS concentration was significantly decreased from $5.05{\pm}0.84nmol/d{\ell}$ to $4.17{\pm}0.64nmol/d{\ell}$ after taking taurine(p<0.01), and the plasma taurine concentration was significantly increased from $63.7{\pm}14.2{\mu}mol/{\ell}$ to $73.8{\pm}16.6{\mu}mol/{\ell}$ after taurine supplementation(p<0.05). The average dietary intake of taurine was $178.5{\pm}50.4$ mg/day, which is similar to the average daily taurine intake of Korean women. In conclusion, taurine is an effective nutrient that antagonizes TBARS levels. Therefore, this study suggests that a sufficient taurine intake may be an effective way to prevent cardiovascular disease such as atherosclerosis.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.260-266
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• 1996

Eighteen crossbred pigs were weaned at 4 days of age and fed up to 28 days of age to examine the effect of sulfur amino acid content of three diets upon plasma taurine concentration and hepatic cysteinesulfinate decarboxylase activity. The experimental diets consisted of either whey protein (W) or partialy hydrolyzed soy protein (S) as the source of protein. 0.25% methionine was added to the S diet for the third dietary regimen (SM). Sulfur amino acid content(methionine plus cystine)of the three diets was 1.53%, 1.34% and 1.09% for the W, SM and S diet, respectively. Plasma taurine concentration from the pigs fed the three experimental diets reflected the total sulfur amino acid content of the diet. The S diet resulted in a significantly lower plasma tarrine level than the W and SM diets throughout the experiment. After three weeks, pigs fed the W diet had significantly higher plasma taurine concentration than those fed SM diet. Therfore it appears that taurine requirement of the pig depends on the sulfur amino acid contents of the diets and the conversion o sulfur amino acid to taurine seemed not to be limited by any factor when sulfur amino acid was below 1.53% of the diet. There was no significant difference between three dietary groups in hepatic cysteinesulfinate decarboxylase activity and this suggests that the reduced cysteinesulfinate decarboxylase activity due to high sulfur amino acid in the diet may not occur in the pig liver.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.13-16
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• 2008

Taurine supplementation has been shown to have an effect on lowering blood lipids in ovariectomized (OVX) rats. It therefore seemed desirable to find out whether the beneficial effect of taurine on OVX rats fed calcium-deficient diet could also be reproduced. Forty female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into two groups. One group was OVX and the other group received a sham operation (Sham). Each rat group was further divided into the control diet and the taurine supplemented (2.0g/100g diet) diet group. All rats were fed on calcium-deficient diet and deionized water ad libitum for 6 weeks. Plasma and liver lipids were determined by using commercial kits. LDL-cholesterol concentrations were estimated with the equation of Friedewald et al. (1972). There were no significant differences in body weight gain and food intake between the control and taurine group within Sham and OVX groups, but body weight gain, food intake, and food efficiency ratio was higher in the OVX group. Concentrations of plasma total cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL-cholesterol were significantly lower in the taurine fed group of OVX rats fed Ca deficient diet, while HDL-cholesterol concentration was increased in the taurine fed group. Therefore, in this study, we examined whether taurine also prevented hypercholesterolemia induced by ovarian hormone deficiency in ovariectomized rats when they were fed a calcium-deficient diet. These results indicate that taurine may have some beneficial effects on hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia in OVX rats fed calcium-deficient diet.