Taurine is a natural acid within your body but often misclassified as an amino acid. It is involved in a wide variety of functions in your body, including nerve transmission, calcium homeostasis, electrolyte balance and blood lipid control, all of which can lead to vertigo. Vertigo is a type of dizziness that involves the sensation of spinning, often caused by imbalances in the inner ear and parts of the brain. Taurine supplements can help relieve vertigo caused by certain imbalances. Vertigo is also a symptom of some life-threatening diseases, so consultation with your health professional is recommended.
Taurine
Taurine is not technically an amino acid, but it is often considered one. It is a primary ingredient in bile and can be found in the lower intestine in abundance. Taurine is also involved in numerous physiological functions, including some that involve the consistency and density of blood and fluids that circulate in the inner ear, which can lead to vertigo symptoms if beyond certain parameters, according to Martha Stipanuk, author of “Biochemical, Physiological and Molecular Aspects of Human Nutrition.”
Vertigo
Vertigo includes the sensation of whirling or spinning but also commonly leads to nausea, vomiting, headache, slurred speech, hearing loss and double-vision. Vertigo is caused by disturbances in the vestibular system, which modulates movement and balance, either within the inner ear or parts of the brain that decipher the information. Ear infections, various diseases, migraine headaches and head trauma can all cause vertigo, but imbalances that affect body fluids can also cause vertigo. For example, excessive consumption of ethanol causes vertigo because it changes the density of the fluid that flows over small hairs in the vestibule of the inner ear. As such, erroneous messages that report movement are sent from the vestibular system to the brain. A similar situation can happen if the blood supply to your inner ear is compromised or if the fluid in the sensory organs has excessive minerals or electrolytes in it.
Taurine and Vertigo
Taurine is involved in many processes that can affect the consistency and density of fluid in your inner ear. For example, taurine is essential for electrolyte balance as it keeps potassium and magnesium inside your cell while keeping excessive sodium out. As such, taurine acts as a diuretic. Further, taurine is involved in calcium homeostasis. A Korean study published in a 2009 edition of “Neurology” found that people with chronic vertigo have problems with calcium metabolism, which may be partially related to taurine levels. Calcium levels become reduced in bone but elevated in blood and other fluids and tissues, which can have disruptive effects around the body including the inner ear. Vertigo is also associated with high cholesterol levels in the blood, which can clog arteries and increase blood pressure. A 2008 Japanese study published in “Lipids in Health and Disease” found that taurine reduces the secretion of apolipoprotein B100 and lipids in cells, which are the main components of the “bad” LDL cholesterol and a major risk factor for atherosclerosis, or blocked arteries.
Cautions
Vertigo is a symptom, not a disease. As such, taurine is not a cure for all causes of vertigo. In fact, there are no human studies that have researched the effects of taurine on vertigo and imbalances in the inner ear. However, taurine may help to balance some factors related to blood and fluids in the inner ear that are known to lead to vertigo. Taurine is not likely to be a fast-acting remedy and may interact with other medical treatments for vertigo, so consult with your doctor before taking taurine.
References
- “Biochemical, Physiological and Molecular Aspects of Human Nutrition”; Martha Stipanuk; 2006
- “Professional Guide to Diseases: Ninth Edition”; Springhouse Publishing; 2009
- “Neurology”; Osteopenia and Osteoporosis in Idiopathic Benign Positional Vertigo; S.H. Jeong et al; March 2009
- “Lipids in Health and Disease”; Taurine Reduces the Secretion of Apolipoprotein B100 and Lipids in HepG2 cells; T. Yanagita et al; October 2008
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