A study has found that taurine supplementation can reduce the prevalence of atheroscleoritc plaque in a mouse model – suggesting its potential as a heart health booster.
Atherosclerosis is defined as the buildup of fats and cholesterol on the artery walls, which can lead to both strokes and heart attacks.
Researchers believe the nutraceutical can exhibit this effect through the reduction of lipid levels.
The study
As recent research has suggested that taurine could benefit heart health through its ability to modulate lipid levels, researchers at the China Pharmaceutical University decided to look into the functional ingredient's impact more closely.
They did this through two studies, with one on human patients with varying degrees of atherosclerosis and one in mice on a high-fat diet.
The human study involved the measurement of taurine levels in the blood, which aimed to highlight any association between the severity of atherosclerosis and taurine levels.
The second study assessed the impact of taurine supplementation on the buildup of atherosclerotic plaque in mice during a four day period.
Patients with severe atherosclerosis had higher taurine levels
From assessing patients with varying degrees of atherosclerotic severity, it was clear that patients with more severe symptoms had higher taurine levels in their blood.
Researchers hypothesised that this likely due to the protective nature of the amino sulfonic acid on the heart muscle.
Although this insinuates that taurine is released by the body to protect it from atherosclerosis-induced cardiac events, it remains uncertain if taurine influences the density and prevalence of atherosclerotic plaques in humans.
Taurine diminished atherosclerotic plaque in mice
During the study period, it was found that taurine supplementation in mice who were subjected to a high-fat diet could significantly reduce the size of arterial blockages.
It was also found that it could diminish the stability of atherosclerotic plaque by reducing the presence of collagen within the plaque formations.
With a reduction in plaque stability, there is an increased risk of plaque rupture, which could lead to blood clots, and — in turn — a heart attack or stroke.
Therefore, it is currently unclear if taurine would be an effective supplement for the reduction of atherosclerosis, as its tendency to cause plaque instability could prove detrimental.
To determine the potential of taurine supplementation in this indication, more research must be done.
Meng-Guang Wei, Chief of Internal Medicine, Chief of Cardiac Center at the Shanghai Jiahui International Hospital, commented: "Although the present study found that short-term taurine treatment significantly reduced plaque area and stability in atherosclerotic mice, which may increase plaque vulnerability to rupture, further investigations are needed to elucidate the mechanisms by which taurine affects both plaque area and stability."
"Additionally, the potential risks of taurine in reducing atherosclerotic plaque formation in patients should be further explored.