Taurine

Taurine is an organic compound. It is up to 0.1% of total human body weight, and is a main constituent of bile. Taurine is essential for the heart, the skeletal muscles, the retina, and the nerves. The body makes it from the amino acid cysteine.

Taurine
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Preferred IUPAC name 2-Aminoethane-1-sulfonic acid
Other names	2-Aminoethanesulfonic acid Tauric acid
Identifiers
CAS number	107-35-7
PubChem	1123
DrugBank	DB01956
ChEBI	CHEBI:15891
SMILES	O=S(=O)(O)CCN
InChI InChI=1/C2H7NO3S/c3-1-2-7(4,5)6/h1-3H2,(H,4,5,6)
Properties
Molecular formula	C2H7NO3S
Molar mass	125.13 g mol-1
Density	1.734 g/cm3 (at −173.15 °C)
Melting point	305.11 °C, 578 K, 581 °F
Acidity (pKa)	<0, 9.06
Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa)

Taurine comes from the Latin /taurus/ which means bull or ox. It was first extracted from ox bile in 1827.

Food

Taurine is in fish and meat. The daily intake is around 58 mg (range from 9 to 400 mg). It is low or negligible from a strict vegan diet. Taurine intake is generally less than 200 mg/day.

Energy drinks

Synthetic taurine is used to make some "energy drinks". Many contain 1000 mg per serving, and some as much as 2000 mg.

Taurine Media

• Degradation of Cysteine to Taurine.svg

  Oxidative degradation of cysteine to taurine

Other websites

• Taurine MS Spectrum
• Taurine bound to proteins in the PDB