Physiological functions
1 The promotion of infant brain tissue and mental development
Taurine content in the brain, are widely distributed, can significantly promote the growth and development of the nervous system and cell proliferation, differentiation, and dose-dependent manner, plays an important role in brain cells during development. The study showed that: the taurine content of the brain in premature children was significantly lower than the full-term children, this is because the preterm children in vivo half-skin acid sub-acid dehydrogenase (CSAD) is not yet mature, taurine synthesis is insufficient to meet the the bodys needs, breast milk supplement. Higher taurine content in breast milk, especially colostrum contain higher concentrations. If the supplement is insufficient, will make the children slow growth, mental retardation. Taurine is closely related to the development of young children, the fetal central nervous system and retina, etc., long-term pure milk feeding, could easily lead to the lack of taurine.
2 to improve nerve conduction and visual function
In 1975, Hayes et al reported that the lack of taurine in the cat feed, cause retinal degeneration, a chronic lack of, and eventually to blindness. The reason why cats and nocturnal owls prey on mice, mainly due to the mice rich in taurine, and more food to maintain its sharp visual. Infants and young children, the absence of taurine, retinal dysfunction will occur. Long-term parenteral nutrition patients, the infusion did not taurine, make the patient ERG changes, only adding large doses of taurine in order to correct this change.
3 to prevent cardiovascular disease
Taurine to inhibit platelet aggregation in the circulatory system, lower blood lipids, to maintain the bodys normal blood pressure and prevent atherosclerosis; have a protective effect on myocardial cells may be antiarrhythmic; lower blood cholesterol levels with special effects, to treat heart failure .
4 affect lipid absorption
The role of taurine in the liver and bile acids combine to form a bezoar bile acid, taurocholic acid absorption of lipids in the digestive tract is required. Taurocholic acid can increase the solubility of lipids and cholesterol, relieve biliary obstruction, and reduce some of the free bile acid cytotoxicity, inhibition of cholesterol gallstone formation, and increase bile flow.