What is Taurine?

Answer:
Taurine is an organic acid that is a major component in bile. Taurine

takes its name from the Latin word for ox (taurus) because it was first identified and isolated from the bile of oxen in the 1820s. This acid is one of only a handful of sulfonic acids occurring naturally.

It has been discovered that large amounts of taurine are found in breast milk and infant brains. Although, after infancy the amount of taurine in the brain drops off dramatically, it does remain present in body tissue throughout life. A major source for this amino acid after infancy comes from the protein in meat and fish. After eating these types of protein, the body manufactures taurine in the liver. Although the health benefits of dietary supplements containing taurine are not firmly established nor well studied, taurine has been synthesized for commercial use as an additive to many “functional foods” such as energy drinks.