title: Taurine, energy drinks, and neuroendocrine effects.
abstract: Taurine is an amino acid found abundantly in brain, retina, heart, and reproductive organ cells, as well as in meat and seafood. But it is also a major ingredient in popular "energy drinks," which thus constitute a major source of taurine supplementation. Unfortunately, little is known about taurine's neuroendocrine effects. The authors review the sparse data and provide a basic background on the structure, synthesis, distribution, metabolism, mechanisms, effects, safety, and currently proposed therapeutic targets of taurine.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA. E-mail: cainejj@mail.uc.edu.|Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Jonathan J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Caine
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA.|Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Thomas D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Geracioti
mesh_terms: D061215:Energy Drinks; D006801:Humans; D009490:Neurosecretory Systems / Q000187:drug effects*; D013654:Taurine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D013654:Taurine