Plasma and urine taurine levels in vegans.
Plasma taurine levels and urinary taurine excretion were measured in 12 strict vegetarian (vegan) males who had maintained a vegan diet for 53 +/- 26 mo (SD) and in 14 male nonvegetarian control subjects. Plasma taurine levels differed (45 +/- 7 vs 58 +/- 16 mumol/L, respectively). Urinary taurine excretion was lower (266 +/- 279 vs 903 +/- 580 mumol/d), urinary N pi-methylhistidine was barely detectable, and urinary N tau-methylhistidine was significantly reduced (296 +/- 87 vs 427 +/- 19 mumol/d) in the vegans. Analysis of 3-d dietary diaries kept by the vegans indicated marginal to adequate intake of protein, carbohydrate, vitamin B-6, methionine, and cystine; inadequate intake of zinc; and negligible intake of taurine. Prolonged absence of dietary taurine intake causes decreased plasma taurine and severely restricted urinary taurine output.
Laidlaw
S A
SA
Department of Medicine, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, CA 90509.
Shultz
T D
TD
Cecchino
J T
JT
Kopple
J D
JD
D000328:Adult; D014676:Diet, Vegetarian; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008762:Methylhistidines / Q000652:urine; D009752:Nutritional Status; D012016:Reference Values; D013654:Taurine / Q000378:metabolism*
D008762:Methylhistidines; D013654:Taurine