Posted by Indie on July 18, 2004, at 17:36:12
In reply to Re: so, is the dose for taurine 3gm/d and what time? » Simus, posted by Larry Hoover on July 17, 2004, at 11:20:43
WOW. This Taurine sounds like a magic pill. With the effects that it has on alcoholism, is it possible that it would help with cigarette addiction?? I HATE being a smoker. I have tried all of the patch, nicorette gum, welbutrin, etc. Whenever I try to quit smoking it sends me into a severe tailspin. As I am severely depressed at the moment, making it worse is not a good idea!!
Any thoughts??
Thanks,
Indie> > Larry,
> >
> > Is there a concern in getting too much of an amino acid? Is there perhaps a toxic level?
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > Simus
>
> I suppose, but how do we determine "too much"? There's the rub.
>
> We generally think of about 20 amino acids when we use the term, and those are the ones which are major components of food proteins. Half of those 20 are essential, meaning we have to get them from food. We are unable to synthesize those from anything else.
>
> The term amino acid, though, actually encompasses hundreds, if not thousands, of compounds. GABA is an amino acid. SAMe is an amino acid. DOPA is an amino acid. 5-HTP is one.
>
> Taurine is one of a rare class, though. Instead of the carboxylic acid group, it has a sulfonic acid group. Taurine is the sulfonic acid version of GABA.
>
> Taurine is found in food, and we can synthesize a little bit of it, but our synthetic enzymes are weak, on a relative comparison with most mammals. Cats have lost taurine synthesis altogether, and it must be in their food or they die.
>
> Although taurine is found in food, it is not a component of protein (with the exception of the simplest of all proteins, the dipeptide, merely two aminos linked together). It has an incredible number of effects within the body. If you are supplementing taurine, how much is too much? Hard to say, but if you listen to your body's reaction, you'll probably be able to figure that out (within reason).
>
> Here's a link to a taurine article that does not mention psych effects. It'll give you a pretty good overview of general physical effects, and therapeutic doses.
>
> http://www.thorne.com/altmedrev/fulltext/taurine3-2.html
>
> I see a reference to six grams per day for four weeks, as an example. I don't know of any toxic effects of taurine (Yet. I'm continuing to research taurine.). That said, your own body may reveal adverse effects. For example, I think my own body has shown a greater resistance to sleep (I already have severe insomnia), yet improved restfulness from the sleep I do get. I am not going to take any taurine today, because I don't feel like I need any. So, four days at about 3 grams per day, and I'm going to take a break from it. But I'll surely take it again, as needed.
>
> What I find to be most amazing about taurine is that I don't feel drugged in the slightest. It is almost an anti-drug. I have lost the feeling that I might benefit from a drug. That is how it feels....I notice what I no longer feel much more succinctly that any literal effect. I'm simply feeling....uhhh....better.
>
> Lar
>
>
poster:Indie
thread:364999
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20040718/msgs/367468.html