Taurine is a naturally occuring amino acid with in the body. It is a by-product of metabolisim.In the brain, Taurine, helps to stabilize nerve cell endings and prevent the neurons from sending too many impulses too fast.
Since the 1970's there has been significant clinical research done on Taurine. Over the following years there has been an abundance of experimental data to prove it's effectiveness in treating seizure disorders.
It appears to have a normalizing effect on the flow of sodium, potassium and calcium into and out of the cell. It also acts as a GABA- like neurotransmitter. Another way it acts upon the brain is by increasing the GABA levels within the brain.
In studies it showed that seizure patients have lower Taurine levels in the plateles than control patients.
The positive response of some epileptics to Taurine supplements and the cellular definciency of Tuarine suggest that supplements be tried in all epileptic patients. Along with theraputic levels of plasma and platelet levels may provide additional information for the physician.
A study done on patients with intractable epilepsy showed that oral doses of 750 mg. decreased seizures in 11 out of 30 patients.All of these patients had been unresponsive to drug therapy.
Patients with partial seizures responded best, those with the highest Taurine concentration showed the best results.
Although Taurine shows great promise , it's rate of effectiveness is far below the scale of becoming a drug therapy for seizures. At this time it still can not be agreed upon which seizure types are most suitable or on an appropriate dosaging schedule.
At this time the only thing agreed upon is that Taurine supplementation for seizures works accross the board.
