Taurine is a sulphur-containing amino acid. Amino acids are compounds used by the body for a number of functions including the formation of proteins, thus they are often referred to as the building blocks of proteins. However, taurine is a free amino acid which is not incorporated into proteins, it is abundant in many tissues including the heart, eyes, nerve cells and skeletal muscle.

• Taurine is used in the production of bile acids which are important for fat digestion and absorption
• Taurine is the most abundant amino acid in the retina (the back of the eye)
• Important dietary sources of taurine are fish and seafood, meat also contains a modest amount. In addition taurine can be synthesised in the body, from other sulphur containing amino acids - methionine and cysteine. The rate of biosynthesis is low and requires pyridoxal-5-phosphate (the active coenzyme form of vitamin B6) as a cofactor. A vitamin B6 deficiency has been shown to impair taurine synthesis. Thus taurine is classed as a conditionally essential nutrient