Taurine - an Often Promoted Active Ingredient. Why?

Hello all,

The mention of Taurine has cropped up a few times recently in relation to the subjects I'll tackle below. As noted in the Amino Acid category of the Gym Professor website, Taurine does not have an "L" prefix as it only exists in one form. Furthermore, Taurine's unusual as it's not incorporated into proteins in the body (likewise, L-Ornithine). However, Taurine does play an important role in bile acid metabolism (as it's incorporated into one of the most abundant bile acids - Chenodeoxychloic Acid), where it serves to emulsify dietary lipids in the intestine, promoting digestion. 

Taurine's most famous use is within "buzz/ energy" drinks, such as Red Bull (you know - gives you wings). You may find it as an active ingredient within your pet food or baby formula as well. As with most amino acids we've covered, their individual (& grouped) function/s has led to their analysis for different uses and their inclusion within many relating formula's. Although Taurine's inclusion within pet food and baby formula is more apparent (I'll cover this at the foot of the page), there's several reasons to argue it's inclusion within "energy" drinks, subsequently, it's become the norm as an ingredient. The quantitative "energy" (measured in calories) is less within so called "energy" drinks than a typical soft drink. The relating term "energy" (& the reason why I place it within annoying " " upon each mention) is borne from the basis that the ingredients (including Taurine) in these drinks contribute to mental alertness and physical performance, despite actually having less "energy" (again, when measuring calories). Personally, I prefer the term "buzz" drink. Anyway, I'll cover "energy" drinks in greater detail within the supplement section of this website.

Before I forget, what else you might see Taurine in as an active ingredient - pet food and baby formula. Firstly, pet food. Working along with Zinc, Taurine is important for eye health and vision. Cat's cannot synthesize the compound and so it's an important dietary requirement. Don't worry, your cat's not about to go blind, as meat and fish are good sources of Taurine. But, if you see it as an added ingredient within a processed cat food formula, this is why. As regards baby formula, premature babies who lack the enzymes needed to convert cystathionine to L-Cysteine may become deficient in taurine. Thus, Taurine is a dietary essential nutrient in these individuals and is often added to many baby formulas as a measure of prudence (coincidentally the name of my first cat - LOL). Also of note, it has been found that high concentrations of Taurine are present in breast milk.

Until the next time, happy training!

GP

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Author of the #1 bestseller Gym Workouts - Maps to Success 

Check out some free workouts from the book here: Free Gym Workouts

Amino Acids

Amino Acids are the building blocks of protein. Amino Acids are linked in various sequences and chains (polypeptides), thus accounting for the vast variety of different proteins manufactured by the body. Likewise, our dietary protein differs, and it's subsequent utilisation by the body.

Scientists have attempted to measure utilisation rates of different sources of dietary protein, creating various forms of measure, such as Protein Efficieny Ratio (PER) and Biological Value (BV), which you may've come across on the back of your protein supplements tub.

Other tags, relating to Amino Acids, which you may be familiar with (from reading the back of protein supplements), are the prefix "L" and the noting "BCAA".

An "L" prefix denotes a naturally occurring amino acid. The opposite "D" (which you're probably not so familiar with) is synthetic, and is not normally useful to the body.

"BCAA" is short for Branch Chain Amino Acids. Bonded in a chain configuartion, the BCAA's - Leucine, Isoleucine, Valine - collectively form the largest Amino section of human protein (about 33% of MUSCLE protein!).

Naturally occurring Amino Acids are further categorised as "essential", which means that they cannot be made by the body (&, subsequently, have to be included in the diet), and "non-essential", which can be made by the body (NB: Although, still benefical within diet).

A list has been made below, click on each link to find out more info. on each individual Amino Acid. However, it must be remembered that many work hand-in-hand, and adequate amounts of protein, and good sources of protein (remember, this is what Amino Acids collectively form), are of greater importance and benefit than simply supplementing high dosages of certain Amino's.

Essential Amino Acids:

L-Isoleucine (BCAA)
L-Leucine (BCAA)
L-Lysine
L-Methionine
L-Phenylalanine
L-Threonine
L-Tryptophan
L-Valine (BCAA)

Non-Essential Amino Acids:

L-Alanine
L-Arginine*
L-Asparagine
L-Aspartic Acid
L-Cysteine
L-Glutamine
L-Glutamic Acid
L-Glycine
L-Histidine*
L-Ornithine
L-Proline
L-Serine
Taurine**
L-Tyrosine

*These are regarded as "semi-essential". The reason, they can be made by the adult body, but babies and young children may not be able to manufacture enough for their needs.

**Taurine does not have an "L" prefix as it only exists in one form. Furthermore, Taurine's unusual as it's not incorporated into proteins in the body (likewise, L-Ornithine).

Tell me more about:

Amino Acids
Dietary Protein
Nitrogen Balance
Protein Requirements
Protein Source Comparisons
Protein Efficiency Ratio (PER)
Biological Value (BV)
Net Protein Utilisation (NPU)
Protein Fractions
Protein Supplementation

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Gym P.

Amino Acid L-Aspartic Acid

Something (L-Aspartic Acid) that's cropped up a few times recently during the joyous explanation of the Krebs Cyle (Citric Acid Cycle), as oxidation of L-Aspartic Acid plays an intermediate role in the eventual production of ATP.

Fatigue can be experienced if levels of L-Aspartic Acid are too low. Again (as mentioned with other amino acids), your general sources of protein - dairy products, beef, poultry, eggs - are all sources of L-Aspartic Acid and should provide enough L-Aspartic Acid. L-Aspartic Acid's relationship (if too low) to fatigue means that it's often advertised in supplement form to reduce exercise induced fatigue and increase stamina. Again, L-Aspartic Acid's individual importance does not outweigh the recovery benefits of a varied and sufficient intake of protein.

For further information, please consult the Gym Professor website.

Amino Acid L-Tyrosine

Apologies on my (GP) supplement biased, but, if you wanted to know the the chemical formula (by the way, it's C9H11NO3) and who L-Tyrosine (in this instance) was discovered by (btw, it's Justus Von Liebig), then the excellent Wikipedia would be a far greater resource. Personally, I find it all rather interesting, however, considering that you're on the Gym Professor Blog, I would imagine your question is to why L-Tyrosine is an added ingredient in either your "fat loss" supplement or your "mental buzz" supplement?

Well, lets start with the "fat loss" supplement. Amongst many important functions, L-Tyrosine governs production of CCK (Cholecystokinin), which is an appetite suppressant (as well as a pain reduction chemical). That's it, short and sweet.

As regards the "mental buzz" supplements, L-Tyrosine acts as an excitatory neurotransmitter stimulant on the brain and central nervous system. Subsequently, it's often included as a major ingredient (along with caffeine) in "mental buzz" supplements (normally drink form).

Contraindications: Schizophrenics, hypertension, high blood pressure, melanoma.