Published online Nov 26, 2013. doi: 10.4330/wjc.v5.i11.404
Revised: September 17, 2013
Accepted: October 18, 2013
Published online: November 26, 2013
Processing time: 94 Days and 11.8 Hours
Taurine (2-aminoethanesulfonic acid) is a β-amino acid found in many tissues particularly brain, myocardium, and kidney. It plays several physiological roles including cardiac contraction, antioxidation, and blunting of hypertension. Though several lines of evidence indicate that dietary taurine can reduce hypertension in humans and in animal models, evidence that taurine supplementation reduces hypertension in humans has not been conclusive. One reason for the inconclusive nature of past studies may be that taurine having both positive and negative effects on cardiovascular system depending on when it is assessed, some effects may occur early, while others only appear later. Further, other consideration may play a role, e.g., taurine supplementation improves hypertension in spontaneously hypertensive rats on a low salt diet but fails to attenuate hypertension on a high salt diet. In humans, some epidemiologic studies indicate that people with high taurine and low salt diets display lower arterial pressure than those with low taurine and high salt diets. Differences in techniques for measuring arterial pressure, duration of treatment, and animal models likely affect the response in different studies. This review considers both the positive and negative effects of taurine on blood pressure in animal models and their applications for human interventions.
Core tip: Many reports indicate that dietary taurine can reduce hypertension in humans and in animal models; however, the hypotensive effect of taurine supplementation depends on many factors. Taurine supplementation improves hypertension in spontaneously hypertensive rats on a low salt diet but fails to attenuate hypertension on a high salt diet. In humans, some epidemiologic studies suggest that people with high taurine and low salt diets display lower arterial pressure than those with low taurine and high salt diets. This review considers both positive and negative effects of taurine on blood pressure in animal models of hypertension to apply for human interventions.