Taurine as a universal carrier of lipid soluble vitamins: a hypothesis

Abstract

In the literature taurine is characterized as a non-specific growth or blood clotting factor, an antioxidant, a membrane protector, or a regulator of calcium ion homeostasis, just as vitamins A, D, E, F, and K are similarly characterized. On the basis of recent finding concerning the relationship between taurine and the aldehyde of vitamin A-retinal (Petrosian and Haroutounian, 1988, 1998; Petrosian et al., 1996), as well as on the basis of data from the literature, we now suggest a hypothesis that taurine promotes the bioavailability of the lipid soluble vitamins A, D, E, K, and F, probably by forming different types of water soluble, easily hydrolyzable complexes. It is quite possible that the ability of taurine to convert lipids and lipid soluble substances into a water soluble state is the key to understanding the unusually wide diversity of biological phenomena associated with taurine. This form of delivery may be an additional, secondary mechanism for the transport of lipid soluble vitamins, which was probably acquired early in evolution, and remains extremely important for mammals and humans directly after birth for a variety of physiological functions such as: vision in normal and in emergency situations, rapid blood clotting, sperm eruption, and situations requiring a prompt consumption of lipid soluble vitamins characteristic of excitable systems. Clearly, the role of taurine in the physiology of the water insoluble vitamins remains an enigma and is worthy of further investigations.

Valorisation of natural extracts from marine source focused on marine by-products: A review

“…Central nervous system neuromodulation (Rose, 1996), regulation of renal development and renal function (Han et al, 2000), anti-inflammatory activity (Chiarla & Giovannini, 2004), bile acids conjugation and choleostasis prevention (Lourenço & Camilo, 2002), antiarrhythmic, anti-inotropic and antichronotropic effects (McCarty, 2001), endocrine and metabolic effects (Rose, 1996) have been referred as physiological roles of taurine in human body. As reported by Petrosian and Haroutounian (2000), taurine can also convert lipid and lipid soluble compounds into a water-soluble state, a characteristic that makes it an interesting emulsifier in various food and pharmaceutical formulations.…”

“…Taurine is the dominant free amino acid in many living species; in terms of content, in the human body taurine is second only to glutamic acid. Both the amine and sulphonic groups of taurine can undergo ionization, and their dissociation constant contributes to the biological and physiological activities showed by taurine (Petrosian & Haroutounian, 2000). Osmotic regulation (Chiarla & Giovannini, 2004), cell membrane stabilization (Han, Budreau, & Chesney, 2000), body detoxification (Lourenço & Camilo, 2002), antioxidant protection (Métayer et al, 2008), immune defense enhancement (Redmond et al, 1998) and intracellular calcium homeostasis regulation (Takahashi, Schaffer, & Azuma, 1997) are the biological functions reported for taurine.…”

Taurine supplementation in diet for olive flounder at low water temperature

“…Although taurine is nonessential, its inclusion in diets is often recommended because of its auxiliary actions such as membrane protection, antioxidation and detoxification in mammals (Wright et al 1986). In addition, it plays a role in osmoregulation in invertebrates (Schaffer et al 2000), acts as a carrier for lipid-soluble vitamins in mammals (Petrosian and Haroutounian 2000) and induces bile salt production in fish (Van Waarde 1988). Due to its unique amino acid properties (i.e.…”

Guanidinoacetate Inhibits Glutamate Uptake in Rat Striatum of Rats at Different Ages

“…It has been also demonstrated that taurine has antioxidant properties, stabilizes membrane and regulates Ca 2+ influx [30]. In addition, elevated extracelular levels of taurine have been shown to contribute to the maintenance of homeostasis [18] and to ameliorate epileptic symptoms in experimental animals and human [31].…”