Taurine (2-aminoethanesulfonic acid) is a free amino acid found ubiquitously in millimolar concentrations in all mammalian tissues. Taurine exerts a variety of biological actions, including antioxidation, modulation of ion movement, osmoregulation, modulation of neurotransmitters, and conjugation of bile acids, which may maintain physiological homeostasis. Recently, data is accumulating that show the effectiveness of taurine against diabetes mellitus, insulin resistance and its complications, including retinopathy, nephropathy, neuropathy, atherosclerosis and cardiomyopathy, independent of hypoglycemic effect in several animal models. The useful effects appear due to the multiple actions of taurine on cellular functions. This review summarizes the beneficial effects of taurine supplementation on diabetes mellitus and the molecular mechanisms underlying its effectiveness.
The potential usefulness of taurine on diabetes mellitus and its complications
Takashi Ito,Stephen W. Schaffer,Junichi Azuma
Published 2011 in Amino Acids
ABSTRACT
PUBLICATION RECORD
- Publication year
2011
- Venue
Amino Acids
- Publication date
2011-03-25
- Fields of study
Medicine
- Identifiers
- External record
- Source metadata
Semantic Scholar, PubMed
CITATION MAP
EXTRACTION MAP
CLAIMS
CONCEPTS
- animal models
Non-human experimental systems used to examine taurine's effects on diabetes-related outcomes.
- cellular functions
Cell-level processes mentioned in the abstract, including ion movement, osmoregulation, neurotransmitter modulation, and bile acid conjugation.
- diabetes mellitus
The metabolic disease used as the main clinical context for assessing taurine's potential usefulness.
Aliases: diabetes
- diabetic complications
The secondary disorders associated with diabetes that are named in the abstract, including retinopathy, nephropathy, neuropathy, atherosclerosis, and cardiomyopathy.
Aliases: retinopathy, nephropathy, neuropathy, atherosclerosis, cardiomyopathy
- hypoglycemic effect
A blood-glucose-lowering effect considered as a possible mechanism or explanation for taurine's actions.
- molecular mechanisms
The mechanistic pathways proposed to explain how taurine exerts its effects in diabetes and its complications.
- taurine
A free amino acid discussed as the compound under review for potential metabolic benefits.
Aliases: 2-aminoethanesulfonic acid
- taurine supplementation
The use of taurine as an added dietary or experimental intervention evaluated in relation to diabetes.