Taurine Supplementation Lowers Blood Pressure and Improves Vascular Function in Prehypertension

Abstract

P rehypertension is highly prevalent worldwide.1 It is estimated that ≈30% to 50% of the population have this condition. It frequently complicates other cardiometabolic risk factors and is closely associated with coronary heart disease, stroke, and renal dysfunction.2 Early intervention in prehypertension substantially prevents the incidence of hypertension and related damage to target organs. Currently, several strategies are used to treat prehypertension, including the incorporation of therapeutic lifestyle changes, such as healthy dietary intake and regular physical activity, as well as the use of antihypertensive drugs, such as an angiotensin II receptor blocker. Although these treatments improve prehypertension, poor compliance and limitations associated with antihypertensive medications prevent their application in the general population. Thus, there is an urgent need to identify reliable and accurate measures to prevent the development of prehypertension.Taurine (2-aminoethanesulfonic acid) is the most abundant, semiessential, sulfur-containing amino acid. It can be synthesized in vivo by cysteine in the presence of cysteine dioxygenase, 3 but taurine is mainly acquired from dietary sources, such as eggs, meat, and seafood. Hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S) is synthesized from 2 sulfur-containing amino acids, l-cysteine and l-methionine, by the 3 enzymes, cystathionine-γ-lyase (CSE), cystathionine-β-synthetase (CBS), and 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase. 4 Taurine has several potentially beneficial cardiovascular effects that involve regulation of the nitric oxide system and endothelial function, 5,6 the renin-angiotensin-aldosteroneAbstract-Taurine, the most abundant, semiessential, sulfur-containing amino acid, is well known to lower blood pressure (BP) in hypertensive animal models. However, no rigorous clinical trial has validated whether this beneficial effect of taurine occurs in human hypertension or prehypertension, a key stage in the development of hypertension. In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, we assessed the effects of taurine intervention on BP and vascular function in prehypertension. We randomly assigned 120 eligible prehypertensive individuals to receive either taurine supplementation (1.6 g per day) or a placebo for 12 weeks. Taurine supplementation significantly decreased the clinic and 24-hour ambulatory BPs, especially in those with high-normal BP. Mean clinic systolic BP reduction for taurine/placebo was 7.2/2.6 mm Hg, and diastolic BP was 4.7/1.3 mm Hg. Mean ambulatory systolic BP reduction for taurine/placebo was 3.8/0.3 mm Hg, and diastolic BP was 3.5/0.6 mm Hg. In addition, taurine supplementation significantly improved endothelium-dependent and endothelium-independent vasodilation and increased plasma H 2 S and taurine concentrations. Furthermore, changes in BP were negatively correlated with both the plasma H 2 S and taurine levels in taurine-treated prehypertensive individuals. To further elucidate the hypotensive mechanism, experimental studies were perfor...

Homocysteine and hydrogen sulfide in epigenetic, metabolic and microbiota related renovascular hypertension

“…This initial report was further confirmed by many other independent studies around the world using various experimental models [145-147]. In a randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled trial, Sun et al demonstrated Taurine, a semi-essential sulfur-containing amino acid, supplementation increased plasma H 2 S concentration and improved endothelial-dependent and – independent vasodilation and this was negatively correlated with BP in taurine-treated prehypertensive individuals [148]. The same study also reported that taurine treatment upregulated the expression of H 2 S synthesizing enzymes, CBS and CSE and reduced agonist-induced vascular tone in human mouse mesenteric arteries and rodent aorta.…”

“…The same study also reported that taurine treatment upregulated the expression of H 2 S synthesizing enzymes, CBS and CSE and reduced agonist-induced vascular tone in human mouse mesenteric arteries and rodent aorta. Finally, they concluded that taurine has potential in intervening vascular tone improvement by targeting H 2 S-mediated inhibition of transient receptor potential channel subtype 3 (TRPC3)-mediated calcium influx [148]. …”

Association of amine biomarkers with incident dementia and Alzheimer's disease in the Framingham Study

“…This is plausible as taurine is involved in blood pressure regulation and low dietary taurine is associated with hypertension in epidemiological studies. [50] Two recent studies have shown that taurine could improve cerebral blood flow, mitochondrial function and reduce hypercoagulability in an animal model of traumatic brain injury, [51] and lower blood pressure in a small clinical trial, [52]…”

Preclinical and Clinical Studies on Antioxidative, Antihypertensive and Cardioprotective Effect of Marine Proteins and Peptides—A Review

“…Results on blood pressure are not easily extrapolated between fish species, as taurine is known for its blood pressure reducing effect [67]. Taurine content varies greatly between fish species [68], however, compared to other foods, it is generally high in marine foods.…”