Also measured alongside: Artery stiffness (reported a benefit); Oxidative stress marker (MDA) (reported a benefit).
Every resultsupplement
Taurine
Also known as 2-aminoethanesulfonic acid
Sulphonic beta-amino acid abundant in cardiac and skeletal muscle and the central nervous system; involved in bile acid conjugation, osmoregulation, and modulation of GABA/glycine receptors, and studied for cardiovascular and exercise performance.
Be careful if: pregnant, breastfeeding
Upper limit: 3 g — per day for healthy adults — Observed Safe Level from a published risk assessment of human clinical trial data (Shao & Hathcock 2008); higher intakes have been tested without adverse effects but the authors judged those data insufficient for a confident long-term conclusion. This is a risk-assessment reference, not a regulatory upper level. The legacy note attributed the 3 g/day figure to EFSA; the EFSA (2009) opinion concluded taurine exposure from regular energy-drink consumption is not of safety concern but does not state this figure.
Suspect a side effect? Report it to the MHRA Yellow Card scheme ↗
2linked conditions
19linked studies
Evidence
What the research actually shows
We link to relevant studies and leave interpretation to you and your healthcare professional.
What studies found
The headline results, condition by condition
The large figures are what the studies reported for each thing they measured. Open a card for every result.
Colour keyReported a benefitNo clear benefitUnclearPossible harmAmber is for highlights, such as where the most research is. It never means a result was good.
Safety
Safety and considerations
What sources report about side effects, who should be careful, and medicines to ask about first.
Be careful if you…
| Applies to | What sources say | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| pregnant | No pregnancy-specific opinion for taurine supplements was located in the sources checked — the EFSA (2009) assessment addressed taurine at energy-drink levels in the general population and a published risk assessment of human trial data covered healthy adults only. | EFSA ANS Panel (2009): The use of taurine and D-glucurono-gamma-lactone as constituents of so-called 'energy' drinks. EFSA Journal 7(2):935, doi:10.2903/j.efsa.2009.935 (conclusion cross-checked via EFSA news release; publisher full text bot-blocked on retrieval)Shao A, Hathcock JN. Risk assessment for the amino acids taurine, L-glutamine and L-arginine. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 2008;50(3):376-99 (PMID 18325648) |
| breastfeeding | No breastfeeding-specific data located in the sources checked; safety while breastfeeding is not established. | Shao A, Hathcock JN. Risk assessment for the amino acids taurine, L-glutamine and L-arginine. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 2008;50(3):376-99 (PMID 18325648) |
How much is too much
3 g — per day for healthy adults — Observed Safe Level from a published risk assessment of human clinical trial data (Shao & Hathcock 2008); higher intakes have been tested without adverse effects but the authors judged those data insufficient for a confident long-term conclusion. This is a risk-assessment reference, not a regulatory upper level. The legacy note attributed the 3 g/day figure to EFSA; the EFSA (2009) opinion concluded taurine exposure from regular energy-drink consumption is not of safety concern but does not state this figure.
Sources
EFSA ANS Panel (2009): The use of taurine and D-glucurono-gamma-lactone as constituents of so-called 'energy' drinks. EFSA Journal 7(2):935, doi:10.2903/j.efsa.2009.935 (conclusion cross-checked via EFSA news release; publisher full text bot-blocked on retrieval)Shao A, Hathcock JN. Risk assessment for the amino acids taurine, L-glutamine and L-arginine. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 2008;50(3):376-99 (PMID 18325648)
Evidence analytics
Where the evidence is concentrated
Audited published research for Taurine by condition. Drill into a pair page for the full breakdown.
Taurine: findings by condition
What this means: Bars count reported findings, not treatment effectiveness or certainty.
One study may report several findings or appear in more than one pairing. Counts do not show the size of an effect. Comparable numerical estimates are not established for this summary.
View the full data table
| Compound and condition | Findings (count) | Studies (count) | Reported results (finding counts) | How sure? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heart Health | 2 | 1 | Benefit: 2; no benefit: 0; harm: 0; unclear: 0; not recorded / unrecognised: 0 | Not formally graded |
Suggested uses (unproven)
Where people report using it and what trials suggest
- Moderate evidenceBlood-pressure reduction (small RCTs, 1.5-6 g)
- Weak evidenceExercise-metabolism markers
Where the evidence is negative
Common claims the trials do not support
- The 2023 'taurine slows ageing' Nature paper was in mice/monkeys — no human evidence of lifespan effect.
- Energy-drink harms come from caffeine/sugar, not taurine, but taurine does not neutralise them either.
Conditionally essential amino sulfonic acid; epidemiology links it to ageing, human endpoint trials absent.
Evidence grades reflect study quality and consistency, not marketing claims.
19studies referenced
14journals
2000–2026publication range
Ordered by strength of evidence, then result direction.
01Taurine supplementation as a therapeutic strategy for cellular senescence and chronic inflammation in long COVID: a systematic review and meta-analysisWang K, et al. · BMC infectious diseases · 2026PMID 41803812 ↗02Energy Drinks as the Legal Cocaine? A Comparative Review of Cardiac Physiopathological and Histopathological PatternsGhamlouch A, et al. · Cardiovascular toxicology · 2025PMID 41266869 ↗03Psychosocial and medication interventions to stop or reduce alcohol consumption during pregnancyMinozzi S, et al. · The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2024PMID 38682758 ↗04Insights into the cardiovascular benefits of taurine: a systematic review and meta-analysisTzang CC, et al. · Nutrition journal · 2024PMID 39148075 ↗05Baclofen for alcohol use disorderAgabio R, et al. · The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2023PMID 36637087 ↗06Insomnia in Alcohol-Dependent Patients: Prevalence, Risk Factors and Acamprosate Effect: An Individual Patient Data Meta-AnalysisPerney P, et al. · Alcohol and alcoholism (Oxford, Oxfordshire) · 2018PMID 29617889 ↗Show all 19 studies
07Baclofen for alcohol use disorderMinozzi S, et al. · The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2018PMID 30484285 ↗08Ketogenic diet is less effective in ameliorating depression and anxiety in obesity than Mediterranean diet: A pilot study for exploring the GUT-brain axisMela V, et al. · Brain, behavior, and immunity · 2026PMID 41197688 ↗09Combined Aerobic-Resistance Training and Taurine Supplementation Reduce Asprosin and Elevate Spexin in Men with Obesity: A 12-Week Supplement-Blinded, Randomized Controlled TrialSaedmocheshi S, et al. · Nutrients · 2026PMID 42514394 ↗10Effect of Taurine Combined With Creatine on Repeated Sprinting Ability After Exhaustive Exercise Under Hot and Humid ConditionsYu P, et al. · Sports health · 2025PMID 39972259 ↗11Changes in bile acid subtypes and improvements in lipid metabolism and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk: the Preventing Overweight Using Novel Dietary Strategies (POUNDS Lost) trialHeianza Y, et al. · The American journal of clinical nutrition · 2024PMID 38428740 ↗12A Comparison of Two LDL Cholesterol Targets after Ischemic StrokeAmarenco P, et al. · The New England journal of medicine · 2020PMID 31738483 ↗13Acute effects of energy drinks in medical studentsGarcía A, et al. · European journal of nutrition · 2017PMID 27312565 ↗14Taurine supplementation attenuates delayed increase in exercise-induced arterial stiffnessRa SG, et al. · Applied physiology, nutrition, and metabolism = Physiologie appliquee, nutrition et metabolisme · 2016PMID 27163699 ↗15Urinary biomarkers of meat consumptionCross AJ, et al. · Cancer epidemiology, biomarkers & prevention : a publication of the American Association for Cancer Research, cosponsored by the American Society of Preventive Oncology · 2011PMID 21527577 ↗16Clinical predictors of outcome from an Australian pharmacological relapse prevention trialMorley KC, et al. · Alcohol and alcoholism (Oxford, Oxfordshire) · 2010PMID 20952764 ↗17Naltrexone versus acamprosate in the treatment of alcohol dependence: A multi-centre, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trialMorley KC, et al. · Addiction (Abingdon, England) · 2006PMID 16968347 ↗18United Kingdom Multicentre Acamprosate Study (UKMAS): a 6-month prospective study of acamprosate versus placebo in preventing relapse after withdrawal from alcoholChick J, et al. · Alcohol and alcoholism (Oxford, Oxfordshire) · 2000PMID 10787394 ↗19Acamprosate and relapse prevention in the treatment of alcohol dependence: a placebo-controlled studyTempesta E, et al. · Alcohol and alcoholism (Oxford, Oxfordshire) · 2000PMID 10787398 ↗
Published research results
Reported results grouped by condition. Values and units are preserved as recorded; missing information is not estimated.
How to read this table
- Benefit
- What the trial saw happen: whether the measured outcome moved in the helpful direction in that one study (the tag on each row: “Benefit seen”, “No clear benefit”, “Possible harm” or “Unclear”). It is a study result — not advice, and not a promise it will work for you.
- Evidence
- Study design describes how research was conducted. It is not a formal certainty assessment.
- Effect size
- The result recorded in this summary. “Not reported” means the value is missing from the summary; it does not establish that the publication omitted it.
Reported direction, numerical results and study design are separate. Certainty has not been formally graded in this table.
Heart Health (2 outcomes)
| What was measured | Reported findings | Result and units | Reported sample and duration | Study / source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) | Taurine attenuated delayed arterial stiffness increase vs placebo in 29 men over 14 days. (p < 0.05)Benefit seen | Not reported Recorded unit: Not reported | Sample (as reported): 29 Follow-up: 14 days | Randomised trial · 2016 Study detailsTaurine supplementation attenuates delayed increase in exercise-induced arterial stiffness. Randomized Controlled Trial |
| serum malondialdehyde (MDA) | Taurine attenuated delayed oxidative stress increase vs placebo in 29 men over 14 days. (p < 0.05)Benefit seen | Not reported Recorded unit: Not reported | Sample (as reported): 29 Follow-up: 14 days | Randomised trial · 2016 Study detailsTaurine supplementation attenuates delayed increase in exercise-induced arterial stiffness. Randomized Controlled Trial |
Important: This page reflects observational, aggregate-only community reporting and independent published research. It is not medical advice, and it does not claim any compound treats, cures, or is effective for any condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before starting, stopping, or changing any supplement or treatment.
Outcomes & conditions
Outcomes & conditions →Why people look into Taurine — and what they report
Associated conditions and community-reported outcomes, wrapped together on one page. Aggregates appear only once enough reports arrive.
Important: This page reflects observational, aggregate-only community reporting and independent published research. It is not medical advice, and it does not claim any compound treats, cures, or is effective for any condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before starting, stopping, or changing any supplement or treatment.
Availability
Where to get Taurine (UK)
How this compound is sold in the UK, and where our readers typically find it.
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