In addition to getting taurine from food, you can get it from some energy drinks. This is thanks to your body’s ability to make taurine in your liver from other amino acids ( 1). They tend to have lower taurine levels than those who regularly eat animal proteins ( 3, 4, 5).Įven so, taurine deficiency is unlikely.

Plants contain no appreciable amount of taurine ( 2).Ĭonsequently, people eating a vegan or vegetarian diet consume less taurine. The main sources of taurine are animal proteins such as meat, seafood, and dairy. It’s essential only in certain circumstances, such as in times of illness and stress. Taurine is an amino acid found in certain foods. However, because newborns and infants can’t make taurine as well as adults, they depend on taurine from breast milk or taurine-supplemented formula ( 1). Therefore, taurine deficiency is unlikely in healthy adults ( 1). Taurine is found in some foods, and your body can even produce it by itself. The Latin name for an ox is Bos taurus, which is where the amino acid’s name originated ( 1). Rather, it was first isolated in 1827 from the bile of an ox. Rest assured that, despite the common belief, taurine is not extracted from bull semen or urine. Instead, it’s considered a conditionally essential amino acid, meaning it becomes essential only in times of illness and stress ( 1). It’s particularly concentrated in your brain, eyes, heart, and muscles ( 1).Īlthough amino acids are often referred to as the building blocks of protein, taurine isn’t used to build proteins in your body. Taurine is a naturally occurring sulfur-containing amino acid.

Energy rush with taurine