Taurine powder? L-taurine pills?

Is anyone using taurine powder? Anyone using L-taurine pills? I can not find the difference between L-taurine and taurine?

Any personal experience or research information is always greatly appreciated.

[park_bear]

Some molecules exhibit a handedness, meaning they are not identical to their mirror images, like left and right hands. This is known as chirality. Depending on which way they rotate polarized light they are dubbed either "L" for levo or "D" for dextro. Taurine is NOT a chiral molecule, therefore any manufacturer that labels it as such does not know what they are doing:

nowfoods.com/now/nowledge/t...

"Taurine is an amino acid that does not polarize light. It thus is properly called just “Taurine”, without L or D configurations. While some label Taurine as “L-Taurine”, that name is not technically correct. “Taurine” is the same exact molecule and form as what is commonly mislabeled as “L-Taurine”."

[Bolt_Upright]

Published: 22 March 2018

Taurine protects dopaminergic neurons in a mouse Parkinson’s disease model through inhibition of microglial M1 polarization

nature.com/articles/s41419-...

Altogether, our results showed that taurine exerted dopaminergic neuroprotection through inactivation of microglia-mediated neuroinflammation, providing a promising avenue and candidate for the potential therapy for patients suffering from PD.

Wow!

[park_bear in reply to Bolt_Upright]

Very glad you thought to look this one up. From your link, they used an animal model well: " Taurine also attenuated the aggregation of α-synuclein in paraquat and maneb-intoxicated mice. Mechanistically, taurine suppressed paraquat and maneb-induced microglial activation. Moreover, depletion of microglia abrogated the dopaminergic neuroprotective effects of taurine, revealing the role of microglial activation in taurine-afforded neuroprotection....

"taurine (150 mg/kg) was administrated to mice for consecutive 6 weeks (twice per week)"

Adjusting for the difference between mouse versus human metabolic rate and daily versus twice-weekly, the indicated dose for a 150 pound person would be 200 milligrams daily. The typical taurine supplement contains 1000 milligrams per capsule, so this should be plenty. All seven taurine supplements tested by Consumerlab contained the labeled amounts of taurine. Many highly rated offerings on Amazon available at less than $.10 per capsule: amazon.com/s?k=taurine

Taurine appears to be safe: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taurine

"Safety and toxicity: A 1966 study found an indication that taurine (2 g/day) has some function in the maintenance and possibly in the induction of psoriasis. Three later studies failed to support that finding...Taurine has an observed safe level of supplemental intake in normal healthy adults at up to 3 g/day. Even so, a study by the European Food Safety Authority found no adverse effects for up to 1,000 mg of taurine per kilogram of body weight per day. "

Inversely correlated with motor impairment severity:

nature.com/articles/s41419-... "It was reported that the concentrations of taurine are particularly high in the SN and striatum, which plays an important role in modulating dopamine release and dopaminergic neuron activity. Recent study showed that the levels of taurine in plasma of PD patients are decreased and are negatively associated with motor severity...

tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.... "Results: The plasma taurine levels of PD patients were decreased when compared with controls and negatively associated with motor severity but not NMS. Moreover, tPD patients exhibited lower levels of plasma taurine than ntPD patients. Interestingly, plasma taurine levels negatively correlated with cumulative levodopa dosage in tPD. After controlling for potential confounders, the association between taurine and levodopa remained significant."

Taurine reduces blood pressure and is beneficial for cardiovascular system: ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161...

Summary: In an animal model of PD taurine reduced neuro-inflammation and ameliorated motor impairment. In humans taurine is inversely correlated with PD motor impairment. It is safe, and inexpensive, and also has cardiovascular benefits.

[Bolt_Upright in reply to park_bear]

But then there is this (indicates PwP already produce too much Taurine):

Systematic analysis of gut microbiome reveals the role of bacterial folate and homocysteine metabolism in Parkinson’s disease cell.com/cell-reports/pdf/S...

Personalized-level community modeling indicated that the microbial production of homocysteine, glycine, isoleucine, glutamate, nitrate, and valine was significantly increased in patients with PD compared to controls (Figure 3C). Personalized community models also indicated that microbial secretion of cysteine, cysteine-glycine, and taurine was higher in PD. Additionally, we predicted that microbial production of NH3, H 2S, and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is increased in PD communities (Figure 3D). Moreover, the secretion of tryptophan, indole, ornithine, phenylalanine, and putrescine was predicted to be increased in PD compared to controls. On the other hand, the production of folate, glutamine, carnosine, and succinate is predicted to be decreased in patients with PD.

So if we are producing too much already, is supplementing helpful?

[park_bear in reply to Bolt_Upright]

These are the outputs of a model, and is far removed from any cause and effect relationship. Actual observations of effect of taurine in PD are far stronger evidence.

[Bolt_Upright in reply to park_bear]

May I ask if Taurine is in your supplement stack? Thinking of adding it to mine now. Thanks.

[park_bear in reply to Bolt_Upright]

It was not but sure is now! On order as of today.

[Bolt_Upright in reply to park_bear]

Taurine and its analogs in neurological disorders: Focus on therapeutic potential and molecular mechanisms sciencedirect.com/science/a...

4.2. Role in neurodegenerative diseases

Taurine produced pharmacological activities in the model of neurodegenerative disease. In the streptozotocin (STZ)-induced Alzheimer's disease (AD) model, taurine (50 mg/kg, p.o. for 15 days) protected from the depleted content of glutathione (GSH) and elevated level of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances in rats. It also prevented from the depletion of antioxidant enzymes glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, glutathione-S-transferase, catalase, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and alteration of the morphology of the hippocampal pyramidal neurons compared to the STZ-induced group [81]. In another study, treatment with taurine (200 mg/kg, i.p. for 7 days) protected from the elevated production of age-related lipid peroxidation products [82]. Moreover, taurine (250 mg/kg, p.o. for 10 days) attenuated cognitive deficits by directly binding to oligomeric Aβ in mice [83], and taurine (1000 mg/kg per day for 6 weeks) recovered cognition in the adult APP/PS1 mouse model [84]. The mechanism of taurine action as a cholinergic signal has been described. In subchronic exposure of manganese, taurine ameliorated impaired learning and memory ability [85]. Taurine treatment also restored acetylcholinesterase and choline acetyltransferase activities, which are crucial for acetylcholine regulation in both STZ- and Mn-induced models [81,85]. In addition to the cholinergic signaling pathway, taurine prevented chick retinal neurons in cell culture against Aβ-mediated neurotoxicity and glutamate receptor agonists. Picrotoxin, an antagonist of GABAA receptors, has been blocked by the neuroprotective role of taurine; however, the effect is not arbitrated by glutamate receptors [65].

In addition to the AD model, the neuroprotective action of taurine against Parkinson's disease (PD) has been studied in cellular and animal models. Taurine exerted an ameliorating action against rotenone-induced neurodegeneration [86,87]. It displayed a concentration-dependent reduction in rotenone-induced cell damage in SH-SY5Y cells. The combination of a subeffective dose of taurine and low and subeffective doses of N-acetyl cysteine afforded better cytoprotection against rotenone induction than taurine treatment alone and action may be mediated via anti-oxidative mechanisms [86]. In a rotenone-induced rat model, taurine significantly ameliorated rotenone-induced decreases in the levels of catecholamine neurotransmitters and tyrosine hydroxylase. It also attenuated rotenone-induced catalase and lipid peroxidation levels [87]. In PC12 cells, treatment with taurine produced protection against toxic agent-induced degeneration [[88], [89], [90]]. Taurine also restored reduced Bcl-2 expression in an H2O2-induced model. It reduced H2O2-induced upregulation of binding immunoglobulin protein (GRP78), growth arrest and DNA damage 153 (GADD153)/C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP) and Bim, signifying that taurine may also play a preventive role against oxidative stress by decreasing ER stress [88]. Against perfluorooctane sulfonate-induced degeneration, administration of taurine also displayed protective activity in PC12 cells. Taurine reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and attenuated perfluorooctane sulfonate-induced increases in autophagy and apoptosis [89]. Moreover, treatment significantly reversed the decrease in viability, oxidative stress and abnormal autophagy in PC12 cells exposed to BDE 209 [90]. Taurine also exhibited protective activity against MPP+-induced neurodegeneration in coronal slices from rat brains. Concentrations of taurine at 1 and 20 mM displayed a potentially protective role in cases of neuronal insult [91]. A recent study described taurine's potential effects against neurodegeneration in a PD model. Taurine protects manganese-induced neuronal injury during the physiological outcome of a cilio-inhibitory dopaminergic system in Crassostrea virginica [92]. In a paraquat- and maneb-induced neurotoxicity model of mice, treatment with taurine (150 mg/kg, i.p.) attenuated a paraquat- and maneb-mediated decrease in tyrosine hydroxylase-positive neurons in the locus coeruleus. Taurine ameliorated toxin-induced microglial activation and M1 polarization as well as proinflammatory cytokine release in the brainstem of mice. Treatment with taurine also prevented the activation of microglial NADPH oxidase and oxidative damage in paraquat- and maneb-intoxicated mice. In addition, inhibiting NF-κB, but not signal transducers, and activators of the transcription 1/3 (STAT1/3) signaling pathway contributed to taurine-prevented microglial activation [93].

[Bolt_Upright in reply to Bolt_Upright]

This is the part I liked:

The combination of a subeffective dose of taurine and low and subeffective doses of N-acetyl cysteine afforded better cytoprotection against rotenone induction than taurine treatment alone and action may be mediated via anti-oxidative mechanisms [86].

So it looks like i should take with my NAC and Glycine.

[Hidden in reply to park_bear]

Powder or capsules? My initial post was prompted bc I am interested in changing from capsules to powder

Possible Powder regimen

Mannitol AM

Taurine midday

Glycine and Magnesium pm

Thoughts on timing?

I also want to resume L-Tyrosine but I’m not sure of timing

[park_bear in reply to Hidden]

I ordered the capsules. No idea how taurine tastes - you may want to open up one of your capsules and see before ordering the powder.

The only conflict am aware of in my regime is between B6 and carbidopa, so I am sure to take these separately. Most of my supplements are once a day which I take in the morning all at once.

[chartist in reply to park_bear]

Taurine was one of my experiments years ago and the powder has a very mild taste. I used to just add my dose to orange juice and it dissolves easily with no additional taste. It is a main component of the energy drink Red Bull, probably to try and calm down the caffeine effects. Maybe I should have tried snorting it! 😜😜😜

Art

[glenandgerry]

My husband has been taking Taurine capsules for nearly 2 months as I had read similar good things about it as Bolt_Upright.Hubby has been diagnosed with PD for 16 years, doesn't eat well and cannot exercise due to pain & arthritis. However, I seem to detect the very slightest improvement but whether it's down to the addition of Taurine to his supplement regimen, or the Ambroxol he's been taking for 4 months (or even my imagination), I don't know.

[Hidden in reply to glenandgerry]

Hi there, my Dad has had PD for a long time, 15+ years. I have PD too. My Dads pain and arthritis has reduced since supplementing with turmeric.

[Bolt_Upright]

Effects and Mechanisms of Taurine as a Therapeutic Agent

biomolther.org/journal/view...

Homotaurine in Parkinson’s disease

tahomaclinic.com/Private/Ar...

[silvestrov]

I take taurine and here are a couple of additonal sources of pharmaceutical grade taurine.

swansonvitamins.com/swanson...

nutrabio.com/product/24031/

As for dose, Livestrong recommends 3,000 mg/day as an upper limit...

livestrong.com/article/4420...

...and this dose was used in a congestive heart failure study.

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/153...

[Bolt_Upright in reply to silvestrov]

Thanks silvestrov!

[Bolt_Upright]

Ordered my Taurine today. Will take with my NAC and Glycine (The combination of a subeffective dose of taurine and low and subeffective doses of N-acetyl cysteine afforded better cytoprotection against rotenone induction than taurine treatment alone and action may be mediated via anti-oxidative mechanisms).

Jarrow Formulas Taurine, Brain & Memory Support, 1000 mg, 100 Caps

amazon.com/gp/product/B0001...