Taurine Supplements Review for People, Dogs, and Cats
Find the Best Taurine
Supplements. Learn When to Use Taurine and Which Supplement is Best.
Medically reviewed and
edited by Tod Cooperman, M.D. 
Last Updated
: 12/19/2018 | Initially Posted:
11/30/2018
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Table of Contents
Summary
·
What is it? Taurine plays many functions in our bodies and in those of
dogs and cats, but there is generally no need to supplement with taurine
because it is produced in the body from other nutrients in the diet (See What It Is).
·
Does it help? Diets that do not provide nutrients
needed to produce taurine or taurine itself, can lead to taurine deficiency.
This is most likely to occur among vegetarians and pets fed non-conventional
diets. Taurine supplementation can help reverse deficiency. In addition, it may
be helpful in people with congestive heart failure or liver disease and in dogs
and cats with dilated cardiomyopathy, a heart condition often linked to diet
and taurine deficiency (See What It Does).
·
What did CL find? ConsumerLab.com found no problems with
the quality of a selection of taurine products sold in the U.S., but there were
large differences in the cost to obtain taurine. The cost to get 500 mg of
taurine ranged from just 1 cent to 18 cents in supplements for people. The cost
was even higher (up to 49 cents) with pet formulations (See What CL Found).
·
Top Picks — Among the products Approved in testing, Top Picks that
provide the best value and convenience were selected for people as well as for
pets.
·
How much to take and when? Taurine is typically taken at a dose of
1,000 mg to 2,000 mg (1 to 2 grams) twice or three times daily. For pets, the
dose depends on the weight of the animal and ranges from 250 mg to 1,000 mg
twice daily (See What to Consider When Using).
·
Concerns? Taurine is generally considered to be safe as a supplement
at moderate doses but may modestly reduce blood pressure (see Concerns and Cautions).
What It Is:
Taurine
is a water-soluble amino sulfonic acid. People, as well as dogs and cats, make
taurine from other nutrients (vitamin B6 and the
amino acids methionine and cysteine), so there is no dietary requirement for
taurine, although taurine can be obtained directly from meat, poultry, eggs,
dairy products, and fish. However, deficiencies occasionally occur when diets
do not provide enough of the building blocks for making taurine, or taurine
itself, as can sometimes occur in vegetarians and in pets fed unconventional
diets.
What It Does:
Taurine is thought to help regulate heartbeat, maintain cell
membranes, and affect the release of neurotransmitters. The liver also
conjugates taurine with bile acids forming bile salts which are necessary for
emulsifying fats in the intestine. For People
Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)
Several studies (primarily by one research group) suggest that taurine may be
useful for congestive heart failure. A placebo-controlled study of 58 people
with CHF found that taking 2 grams of taurine 3 times daily for 4 weeks lead to
highly significant improvements in breathlessness, heart palpitations, fluid
buildup, and heart x-ray, as well as standard scales of heart failure severity.
No patient worsened with taurine but four patients did with placebo (Azuma, Clin Cardiol 1985). A very small study
found taurine (3 grams per day) more effective than coenzyme Q10 (30 mg per day)
for CHF (Azuma, Jpn Circ J 1992).
Liver diseases
One study suggests that taurine supplements might be useful for acute viral
hepatitis (a viral infection of the liver). In the study, 63 people
with hepatitis were given either 12 grams of taurine daily or placebo. The
taurine group experienced significant improvements in liver function as
compared to the placebo group (Matsuyama, Prog Clin Biol Res, 1983). However,
a small double-blind study suggests that taurine (1.5 grams per day) does not
help chronic hepatitis (Podda, Gastroenterology 1990).
A study in rats with experimentally induced liver injury demonstrated that very
high-dose taurine reduced the dangerous rise in blood ammonia levels that
occur with liver injury (Heidari, Tox Reports 2016).
A study in Australia found a benefit of taurine in reducing cirrhosis-related
muscle cramps (most commonly experienced in the calves, feet and toes,
hands and fingers, and thighs). In the study, 1,000 mg twice daily was found to
be superior to 500 mg twice daily and, relative to placebo, resulted in a lower
number of cramps (11 vs. 18), shorter total duration of cramps (81.4 vs. 170
minutes), and decreased the average severity of cramps (by 1.4 units on a scale
of 1 to 10). To help avoid possible gastrointestinal side effects, patients
initially took 500 mg of taurine (as a capsule from Now Foods) twice daily for
two weeks, and then doubled this dose (1,000 mg twice daily) for another two
weeks. There were no adverse side effects associated with taurine
supplementation (Vidot, Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2018).
Exercise
Taurine is often included in muscle and workout supplements, but the evidence
is mixed on whether it provides benefit. For example, 1.66 grams of taurine
taken one hour before intense exercise did not improve athletic
performance in healthy, endurance-trained male cyclists (Rutherford, Int J Sport Nutr Exerc
Metab 2010). Nevertheless, a subsequent review of ten clinical
studies in which taurine alone was taken in doses ranging from one to six grams
per day concluded that taurine supplementation resulted in a mild-to-moderate
improvement in exercise performance (Waldron, Sports Med 2018).
There is some evidence that taurine, in combination with branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) may
help muscle recovery after exercise. One small, controlled
study found that 2 grams of taurine plus 3.2 grams of BCAAs daily for two weeks
prior to and three days after high-intensity exercise reduced delayed-onset
muscle soreness (DOMS) and muscle damage compared to placebo although
neither supplement alone helped (Ra, J Int Soc Sports Nutr 2013).
Another small study, in 10 recreationally-fit young men, found that taurine
powder (Now Foods) taken twice daily (morning and evening) for 72 hours
following eccentric exercise decreased exercise-induced muscle damage and
improved performance recovery of the biceps muscle. The dose of taurine powder
was 100 mg per kg of bodyweight -- up to 10 grams per day (Yanita, Antioxidants (Basel) 2017).
Other Uses
Taurine has been proposed as a treatment for numerous other conditions but, the
evidence is weak and, in some cases, contradictory. These include use in
cataracts, diabetes, epilepsy, hypertension, multiple sclerosis, psoriasis, and
stroke. Taurine is also sometimes combined in an "amino acid
cocktail" with other amino acids for treatment of attention deficit
disorder, but there is no evidence as yet that it works for this purpose.
For Pets
A serious heart condition in dogs and cats known as dilated
cardiomyopathy (DCM) has been associated with taurine deficiency and
has been reversed by providing taurine supplementation and other dietary changes.
Dogs
Diet-associated DCM in dogs first came to light in the 1990s. The number of
cases appears to have increased in recent years, possibly due to a shift toward
boutique, exotic ingredient, and grain-free diets as opposed to more
traditional dog foods (Freeman, JAVMA 2018). In
2018, the FDA issued an alert about
reports of DCM in dogs eating pet foods containing peas, lentils, other legume
seeds, or potatoes as main ingredients. The reasons for taurine deficiency in
dogs are not well understood but, among the possibilities is deficiency of
taurine precursors in the diet or reduced bioavailability of these precursors
or taurine itself due to the diet. [For more details, see the excellent article
by Lisa Freeman, DVM of Tufts University on November 28, 2018 in the Petfoodology Blog.]
Cats
The association between taurine deficiency and DCM in cats was reported in 1987
(Pion, Science 1987). Due to that report and
subsequent research, the requirement for taurine in cat foods was increased and
taurine deficiency-related DCM is now uncommon in cats. However, it can still
be seen in cats eating home-prepared diets or commercial diets prepared with
inadequate nutritional expertise or quality control. (Freeman, JAVMA 2018)
Quality Concerns and
Tests Performed:
Neither
the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) nor any other federal or state agency
routinely tests supplements for quality prior to sale. In order to help
consumers identify products of better quality, ConsumerLab.com purchased and
tested taurine supplements to determine whether they contained the labeled
amounts of taurine. In addition, any tablets were tested for their ability to
properly break apart (disintegrate) in solution. Heavy metal contamination is
not a known issue with taurine, but products that include substantial amounts
of minerals or whole herbs were tested for contamination with lead, cadmium,
and arsenic. (See How Products Were Evaluated for
information on testing methods and passing score.)
What CL Found:
All seven taurine supplements that ConsumerLab.com selected for
review passed quality testing, containing their claimed amounts of taurine and
meeting all other review criteria, as did two products tested through
ConsumerLab's voluntary Quality Certification Program.
Although we found many high-quality products, there is a wide range of
strengths, serving recommendations, delivery forms, and pricing among the
tested supplements so it's worth comparing products in the table below. In
fact, daily suggested serving sizes ranged from 500 mg to 3,000 mg for people,
and started at 125 mg for pets. Cost ranged from just 1 cent to 18 cents per
500 milligrams in supplements for people, and the cost was even higher (up to
49 cents) for the same amount of taurine in formulations for pets.
Top Picks:
Taurine
is easily dissolved in water and there is no need for "bioavailability
enhanced" formulations -- powders and capsules are fine. Taurine also has
little taste — 2 grams dissolved in a glass of water adds just the slightest
acidic/savory flavor. Essentially, you only need a product that contains the
taurine it claims and is well-priced. You don't have to spend much. For People
Our overall Top Pick is Bulk Supplements
Taurine, which provides 500 mg per 1/8 teaspoon, costing just 1 cent.
It is a fine powder that dissolves quickly in water. In contrast, Allmax
Taurine, a coarser powder, cost a little more and dissolves more slowly.
If you prefer to take a capsule and don't mind paying more, our Top
Picks for capsules are NOW Taurine, which
provides 500 mg of taurine per capsule, costing 6 cents, and TwinLab
Mega Taurine Caps, which provides 1,000 mg per capsule for 13 cents —
working out to about the same cost for taurine as the NOW product.
The TwinLab product is more convenient (i.e., fewer pills) if
you are taking a large dose of taurine, such as 1,000 or 2,000 mg per dose,
although the capsules are also slightly longer and wider.
For Pets
As supplements for people can be much less expensive than
those for pets, instead of buying a pet supplement, consider just adding
taurine powder from Bulk Supplements Taurine (our Top
Pick for people, above) to your pet's food or water. Also consider
using the contents of a NOW capsule -- just twist it apart.
However, if you have a small pet and need to dose with 250 mg (see dosing for pets), it may be difficult to
accurately measure out that amount, which is just 1/16 of a teaspoon of Bulk
Supplements powder or half the contents of a NOW capsule.
In that case, it may be preferable and more convenient to give a chewable
tablet: Our Top Pick for pets is Formula V
Taurine Tablets, which provides 250 mg of taurine per tablet for 16
cents.
Test Results by Product:
Listed
alphabetically below are the test results for nine taurine supplements.
ConsumerLab.com selected seven of these products, and two (indicated with a CL
flask) were tested at the request their manufacturers/distributors through CL's
voluntary Quality Certification Program,
and are included for having passed testing.
Shown for each product is the labeled amount of taurine per unit, the daily
serving size, and the expected daily dose of taurine. The calculated cost to
obtain 500 mg of taurine is provided in the last column along with other cost
comparisons and notable features. The full list of ingredients is available for
each product by clicking on the word "Ingredients" in the first
column.
|
RESULTS OF CONSUMERLAB.COM TESTING OF TAURINE SUPPLEMENTS |
||||
|
Product Name, Listed
Amount of Taurine Per Unit, Serving Size, and Suggested Daily Serving on
Label |
Claimed Amount of
Taurine Per Labeled Daily Serving |
—TEST RESULTS— |
Cost For Daily
Suggested Serving On Label |
|
|
OVERALL RESULTS: |
Contained Labeled
Amount of Taurine |
|||
|
For People: |
||||
|
|
3,000 mg3 |
APPROVED |
✔ |
$0.093 |
|
|
1,000 mg |
APPROVED |
✔ |
$0.02 |
|
|
500 mg to 2,000 mg |
APPROVED |
✔ |
$0.06-$0.24 |
|
|
2,000 mg |
APPROVED |
✔ |
$0.72 |
|
|
500 mg to 2,000 mg |
APPROVED |
✔ |
$0.10-$0.39 |
|
|
1,000 mg to 1,500 mg |
APPROVED |
✔ |
$0.27-$0.40 |
|
|
1,000 mg |
APPROVED |
✔ |
$0.13 |
|
For Pets: |
||||
|
|
125 mg to 250 mg |
APPROVED |
✔ |
$0.08-$0.16 |
|
|
250 mg6 |
APPROVED |
✔ |
$0.256 |
|
|
||||
|
Unless otherwise noted, information about the products
listed above is based on the samples purchased by ConsumerLab.com (CL) for
this Product Review. Manufacturers may change ingredients and label
information at any time, so be sure to check labels carefully when evaluating
the products you use or buy. If a product's ingredients differ from what is
listed above, it may not necessarily be of the same quality as what was
tested. |
||||
|
Copyright ConsumerLab.com, LLC, 2018. All rights reserved.
Not to be reproduced, excerpted, or cited in any fashion without the express
written permission of ConsumerLab.com LLC. |
||||
ConsumerTips™:
What to
Consider When Buying:
As noted earlier, taurine is easily dissolved in water and has little taste — 2
grams dissolved in a glass of water adds just the slightest acidic/savory
flavor. You may find it easier and less expensive to use a taurine powder added
to water or another drink, rather than a capsule.
Be aware that pill strengths and suggested serving sizes vary widely among
products. Be sure to choose a strength (such as 500 mg or 1,000 mg per capsule
or other unit) which is right for you and don't necessarily rely on the suggested
number of daily servings on labels, as they, too can vary (we found suggested
servings to range from 500 mg to 3,000 mg per day for people). See the What to Consider When Using below
for more information about dosage.
Note that if you consume "energy drinks," you
may already be getting taurine: Red Bull, for example, contains as much as 1
gram of taurine per 250 mL can. The reason for this, however, is unclear.
What to Consider When Using:
For People
As discussed in the What It Does section, taurine dosage for
therapeutic purposes has ranged from just 1,000 mg (1 gram) to as much as
10,000 mg (10 grams) daily. Most commonly 1,000 to 2,000 mg is given two to
three times daily.
For Pets
For treating taurine deficiency (e.g., blood taurine levels below 250 nmol/L in
a Golden Retriever), it is recommended that the following dose of taurine be
taken every 12 hours based on the weight of the animal: 250 mg
(under 22 lb), 500 mg (up to 55 lb), or 1,000 mg (over 55 lb). It is also
recommended that diets be changed to traditional, balanced pet food as opposed
to boutique, exotic, grain-free, vegetarian/vegan, or home-prepared diets.
Improvements in DCM can take 3 to 6 months. (Freeman, JAVMA 2018)
Concerns and Cautions:
Taurine
from food is safe and appears to be generally safe from supplements at doses of
up 3 grams per day and possibly higher (Shao, Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 2008)
Taurine supplementation may modestly lower blood pressure.
Individuals with low blood pressure or those taking blood pressure-lowering
medications should use taurine with caution. A review of seven
placebo-controlled clinical trials lasting from one day to three months among
healthy people without high blood pressure and individuals with high-normal or
borderline hypertension found that daily doses of one to six grams per day
resulted in an average decrease in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure
of 3 mmHg (Waldron, Current Hypertension
Reports 2018).
To further assist consumers, ConsumerLab.com licenses its flask-shaped CL Seal
of Approved Quality (see The CL Seal) to manufacturers
for use on labels of products that have passed its testing. ConsumerLab.com
will periodically re-evaluate these products to ensure their compliance with
ConsumerLab.com's standards.
+ 13 sources
Information on this site
is provided for informational purposes only. It is not an endorsement of any
product nor is it meant to substitute for the advice provided by physicians or
other healthcare professionals. The information contained herein should not be
used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease. Consumers should
inform their healthcare providers of the dietary supplements they take.