Taurine: What It Is and Where It Comes From

Taurine turns up in a lot of questions at the counter, and the honest answer starts with what it is rather than what it does. It is a common ingredient in many products, and while it may be familiar, it is not always easy to understand.

If you’re looking for taurine on the shelf, or you’re wondering what it is in the first place, this post is for you.

What taurine actually is

Taurine is an amino sulfonic acid. It is built from an amino acid, but it is not itself one of the twenty the body makes protein from. So it sits slightly outside the usual category. It is soluble in water and is found in fish, shellfish, meat and dairy.

It is not a protein, but it is closely related to the amino acids that make up proteins. This means it is not classified as a traditional amino acid, but it is still a compound that the body uses in various ways.

Your body makes its own

The body makes its own taurine from two amino acids, methionine and cysteine, mostly in the liver. It is not an essential nutrient: you are not short of it unless you are severely unwell.

Most people get plenty from food, which is why taurine-rich foods such as shellfish, meat and dairy have never had a recommended daily amount set. Your body is well equipped to make its own, and unless you are in a situation where your diet is very limited, you are unlikely to need extra taurine from a supplement.

Why it ended up in the headlines

Taurine appears in energy drinks, which is where most people first meet it. Say plainly that it was added to those drinks as an ingredient and that the amount in a can is small. Do not say it does anything. It is a common ingredient in many energy drinks, and it is often the subject of questions at the counter.

It is not a new ingredient, and it is not a strange one. It is simply a compound that is used in a variety of ways, and it is found in many different products.

Reading the label

A taurine tablet may be taurine on its own or combined with other ingredients. Look for how many milligrams per serving, how many servings a day that works out to, whether it is a single ingredient or a blend, and whether it is vegan.

Point the reader at our taurine on the shelf as an example of checking the panel, describing only what the product is. A label will tell you what is in the product, and it will tell you how much of it is in each serving.

This is the most straightforward way to understand what you are taking, and it is the most honest way to know what you are getting.

What we cannot tell you

We do not know what it will do for you, and we do not know what it will not do for you. We know what it is, and we know how much is in it. That is all we can do, and that is all we can give you.