• 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.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.

• Korean Journal of Exercise Nutrition
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.101-111
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• 2012

The purpose of this thesis is to investigate whether taurine supplementation in combination with fructose improves both energy metabolism and exercise capacity. Eight collegiate female subjects were recruited for the study. Each subject went through threecross-over designs: control(fluid), fructose, and taurine plus fructose supplementation trials. Subjects received taurine supplementation 100 mg/kg a day for two weeks. After the supplementation, all subjects take 10% fructose at 15 min prior to exercise, immediately before exercise, and every 15 min during exercise. Subjects received 150 ml fluid as placebo during the same procedure. The subjects performed submaximal exercise at the exercise intensity of 60% for 45 min and then 80% of maximal oxygen uptake (VO_2max) until exhaustion time. A 10ml blood sample was taken for measuring the level of glucose, ammonia, lactate, free fatty acids, and insulin every 15 min during exercise at 60% of VO_2max. The blood glucose levels was significantly higher at 45 min and 50 min exercise after supplementation of fructose, and immediately before exercise and 50 min exercise after taurine plus fructose compared to the placebo trial. However, the values tended to be lower in taurine plus fructose supplementation compared to the fructose trial. The levels of both lactate and ammonia were significantly lower compared to the placebo, while the exhaustion time was significantly increased. The level of free-fatty acids was significantly lower at 30, 45, and 50 min after fructoseand fructose plus taurine supplementation compared to the placebo trial. The level of glucagon was significantly lower at 15, 30, 45, and 50 min after fructose and fructose plus taurine supplementation compared to the placebo trial. There was no differences in insulin concentration among three treatments. This thesis concludes that combined taurine and fructose supplementation prior to exercise may improve exercise tolerance time and energy metabolism, lowering the muscle fatigue factors such as lactate and ammonia.

• 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.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.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.

• 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.36 no.7
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• pp.711-719
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• 2003

The effects of taurine, carnitine or glutamine supplementation on endurance exercise performance along with related fatigue factors were evaluated in male college students in the Department of Physical Education, who's maximal oxygen consumption rates (VO$_2$max) were equivalent to those of endurance athletes. Twenty four subjects were randomly divided into 4 groups (n=6), and given placebo, taurine (4 g/day), carnitine (4 g/day), or glutamine (4 g/day) tablets for 2 weeks. Subjects could run 6.9 min or 9.0 min longer until exhausted on a treadmill at the intensity of 75% VO$_2$max following taurine or camitine supplementation for 2 weeks, respectively, compared to the value measured prior to each supplementation. Glutamine or placebo supplementation did not improve the endurance exercise performance based on the running time until exhausted on a treadmill. Serum lactate concentrations measured 1 hr after the initiation of the endurance exercise, as well as at all-out state tended to be decreased by taurine, carnitine, or glutamine supplementation, and were significantly lowered (43% decrease) by carnitine supplementation (p < 0.05). Taurine supplementation significantly reduced the serum inorganic phosphorus concentration measured at all-out state (14% decrease, p < 0.05), while carnitine supplementation significantly lowered the resting state serum inorganic phosphorus level (20% decrease, p < 0.05). Taurine (32% reduction) or carnitine (23% reduction) supplementation significantly decreased serum ammonia concentration measured at all-out state (p < 0.05). From these results, 4 g/day of taurine or carnitine supplementation appears to improve the endurance exercise performance and related human fatigue factors.

• Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.164-169
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• 2000

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of taurine supplementation time on the activity of the enzymes metabolizing lipid peroxide in the liver of streptozotocin(STZ)-induced diabetic rats, Sprague-Dawley male rats were fed the purified diet for 7 weeks. They were supplemented with or without 1% taurine in drinking water before or after STZ injection or during all experimental procedure. In comparison to diabetic group without taurine, glucose-6-phosphatase(G6Pase) activity was decreased in diabetic group supplemented with taurine before STZ injection, and it was increased in diabetic group supplemented with taurine after STZ injection, but the difference was not significant. Glutathione S-transferase(GST) activity was significantly increased by the injection of STZ. However, the GST activities of diabetic groups exposed to taurine after STZ injection or during all experimental procedure were significantly decreased. Glutathione peroxidase(GPx) activities was significantly decreased by STZ injection. However, only in diabetic group supplemented with taurine before STZ injection, GPx activities was not decreased by the STZ injection. These results suggest that taurine supplementation may change the activities of GSH-related enzymes metabolizing lipid peroxide in the liver of streptozotocin(STZ)-induced diabetic rats and that may be helpful for the prevention of diabetic complication.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.29 no.10
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• pp.1080-1086
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• 1996

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of taurine supplementation on the hepatic lipid peroxidation, activiteis of defense enzymes and membrane stability during rat hepatocarcinogenesis. Hepatocarcinogenesis was induced by Solt & Farber modification. Lipid peroxide contents of carcinogen treated group which was not supplemented with taurine were lower than those of control group. This might be that peroxide is decreased because of the activation of detoxifing enzyme. Glutathione S-transferase(GST) activites of carcinogen treated groups were significantly (p<0.05) increased compared to those of control groups. The GST activities of group supplemented with taurine before treatment of carcinogen and during the all period of experiment were only less increased. In carcinogen treated groups, glutathione peroxidase(GPx) activites of groups supplemented with taurine were higher than those of non supplemented group. By carcinogen treatemtn, glucose 6-phosphatase(G6Pase) activites, index of membrane stability were decreased, but in carcinogen treated groups supplemented with taurine, they were less decreased. These results suggest that taurine supplementation seems to inhibit lipid peroxidation, to change the activities of defense enzymes and to prevent to membrane disintegration during chemically induced hepatocarcinogenesis.