Taurine is an amino acid that is found naturally in meat and dairy products. It is considered a non-essential amino acid, that is to say that it can be synthesized by the body without depending on an external (or exogenous) supply, linked for example to food.
As the National Institute of Public Health of Quebec (INSPQ) points out, “endogenous taurine is found mainly in the brain, retina, myocardium and type II muscle fibers, but also at lower concentrations in the spleen, kidneys, liver and pancreas”.
Unnecessary supplementation
Its effects are “diverse and numerous” reports for its part, the National Food Safety Agency (Anses), which quotes: “regulation of cell volume, antioxidant properties, potential intervention at many levels in cellular functioning”.
Taurine is also “required for the conjugation of bile acids. It is conditionally indispensable in premature babies for the maturation of the retina”.
However, there is no need to jump on meat, dairy products… like energy drinks! “Significant intakes in adults are very quickly eliminated via the urinary route without any demonstrated benefit for health or performance. No specific action has been demonstrated by available scientific studies on sports performance”.
And to drive the point home: “Finally, no study shows deficiency or any other form of taurine insufficiency under normal diet conditions”.