By David Liu, PHD

Tuesday April 23, 2013 (foodconsumer.org) -- Taking taurine supplements or taurine rich foods may help prevent coronary heart disease (CHD) in women who have a high serum level of cholesterol, according to a new study in European Journal of Nutrition.

Oktawia P. Wójcik and colleagues conducted the study and found women who had high cholesterol and maintained a high level of taurine in the blood were almost 60 percent less likely to develop coronary heart disease.

Taurine (2-aminoethanesulfonic acid) has many basic biological roles such as conjugation of bile acids, prevention of oxidation, blood pressure regulation, anti-inflammation, osmoregulation, membrane stabilization and molecular modulation of calcium signaling. It is important for cardiovascular function, skeletal muscle development and function, the retina, and the central nervous system among other things.

For the case-control study, researchers measured serum taurine two years before diagnosis of coronary heart disease in 223 cases and 223 matched controls and associated the serum taurine concentrations with incidence of coronary heart disease among those who enrolled in the New York University Women's Health Study.  

Taurine levels were positively associated with age and dietary intake of chicken, niacin, vitamin B1, fiber and iron, and negatively correlated with dietary intake of saturated fat.

No statistically significant association was found between serum taurine concentrations and the risk for coronary heart disease in the overall study population.  However, after adjustment for other risk factors, those in the highest tertile were 34 percent less likely to develop coronary heart disease, compared with those in the lowest tertile.

Among women who  had high total serum cholesterol, to be exact, 250 mg/dL, those in the highest tertile of taurine were 61 percent less likely to be diagnosed with coronary  heart disease.  The association was not found among those who had low cholesterol.

The researchers concluded "The data suggest a possible inverse association of serum taurine with diabetes and hypertension risk." and "The findings suggest that high levels of taurine may be protective against CHD among individuals with high serum cholesterol levels."

Taurine which is commonly used in sports drinks or energy drinks has been known to lower blood pressure.   The European Food Safety Authority conducted a study in 2003 and found no adverse effects when up to 1 gram of taurine per kg of body weight is consumed daily.