Amino acids
Taurine
Cardio · electrolyte
Conditionally essential; cardiovascular, mitochondrial, osmoregulation. Common dose 1–3 g/day.
What Taurine does
Taurine is conditionally essential — most adults can synthesize enough from cysteine and methionine, but synthesis declines with age and is impaired in some clinical states. It's the most abundant free amino acid in the heart and skeletal muscle and plays a role in osmoregulation, bile-acid conjugation, calcium signaling, and antioxidant defense. A 2023 paper in *Science* reported that taurine declines with age in mammals and that supplementation extended lifespan in mice and improved several aging biomarkers in monkeys — clinical extrapolation is still tentative.
Food sources of Taurine
Approximate Taurine content per serving. Whole-food intake counts toward your daily total alongside any supplemental dose.
| Food | Serving | Taurine |
|---|---|---|
| Scallops (cooked) | 3 oz | 830 mg |
| Mussels (cooked) | 3 oz | 655 mg |
| Cooked turkey | 3 oz | 300 mg |
| Cooked beef | 3 oz | 60 mg |
| Cooked salmon | 3 oz | 130 mg |
Signs of Taurine deficiency
- ●Cats develop dilated cardiomyopathy on taurine-deficient diets — humans don't, but this is the canonical mammalian deficiency syndrome
- ●Possible role in retinal and cardiac dysfunction in chronic dialysis patients
- ●No specific outpatient deficiency syndrome described in healthy adults
Who needs more Taurine
Groups and situations where Taurine requirements rise or status commonly runs low:
- ●Strict vegans (plant taurine content is negligible)
- ●Older adults — endogenous taurine declines with age
- ●Patients with chronic kidney disease, diabetes, or cardiac dysfunction (under clinical guidance)
How Taurine appears on labels
Supplement labels list Taurine under several names depending on the chemical form used. Any of these on an ingredients panel counts toward your Taurine intake:
- taurine
- l-taurine
Best supplements for Taurine
Top-scoring supplements in our catalog that list Taurine on the label. Each product is graded on Formulate's ingredient-level rubric — dose accuracy, form, transparency, and third-party testing.
Deep dive
For mechanism of action, dosing protocols, evidence grade, and interaction warnings on Taurine, see the full encyclopedia entry:
Taurine encyclopedia entry →Research on Taurine
Peer-reviewed studies in our research database that reference Taurine. Each entry links to a detailed methodology review.
Guides covering Taurine
Long-form articles in our guide library that go deeper on Taurine — comparisons, protocols, and reviews.
Frequently asked questions
What is the daily target for Taurine?
What foods are highest in Taurine?
What is the best form of Taurine to supplement?
What are the signs of Taurine deficiency?
Who is most at risk for low Taurine?
Related amino acids
Track your full intake
Formulate's free web app aggregates Taurine (and ~40 other nutrients) across every supplement in your stack — flagging underdoses, overlaps, and upper-limit overshoots in one view.
Track your intake free →Medical disclaimer. This page is educational and does not replace advice from a qualified healthcare provider. Targets and upper limits are general adult reference values; individual needs vary by age, sex, pregnancy status, and clinical context.