Taurine is an amino acid that is found in fish and meat. Your body uses it for regulating the levels of mineral salts and water that are in your blood and for proper brain development. Your body contains more taurine than any other amino acid. Supplemental taurine in doses of up to 3,000 mg per day is safe, according to MayoClinic.com. However, if you suffer from migraines, you may want to watch your taurine intake.
Migraine Headaches
Migraines are severe headaches characterized by throbbing and pain in one part of the head, accompanied by other symptoms, including vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, blurred vision, lightheadedness and sensitivity to sound and light. Although the exact cause of migraines is not clear, it likely includes both environmental and genetic factors.
Taurine and Migraines
Taurine levels are higher in the blood and cerebrospinal fluid of people suffering from migraines, and lower in the urine of these individuals. Taurine levels are also higher during a migraine than after a migraine, according to a study published in July 1982 in "Headache." Taurine may be involved in the biological processes that bring on migraine headaches, although more research is needed in this area.
Treatment
Your doctor may prescribe some type of pain-relieving or preventative medication to help control your migraine headaches. Keeping a headache diary may help you determine what triggers your migraines so you can avoid these conditions, and getting sufficient sleep and doing muscle relaxation exercises may also help limit the number of migraines you suffer. Other alternative therapies that may help with migraines include biofeedback, acupuncture and massage, as well as taking supplements such as riboflavin, coenzyme Q10, feverfew, magnesium and butterbur.
Considerations
Speak with your doctor before taking any supplements in an effort to treat your migraine headaches, as these supplements may not be safe for you. Research on the effects of taurine on migraines is still preliminary, and you do need to consume a certain amount of taurine to stay healthy, so do not avoid all taurine sources.
References
- MayoClinic.com; Taurine in Energy Drinks: What is it?; Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D.; June 2010
- MayoClinic.com; Migraine; June 2011
- "Headache"; Taurine Levels in Plasma and Cerebrospinal Fluid in Migraine Patients; F. Martinez, et al.; June 1993
- "Headache"; Change in Platelet Taurine and Migraine; V.P. Dhopesh, M.D., and S.I. Baskin, Pharm.D., Ph.D.; July 1982
- "Headache"; Urinary Excretion of Taurine in Migraine; Anjali Rao and Suryanarayana Rao; June 2005
- "Cephalagia"; Cerebrospinal Fluid Analysis in Migraine Patients and Controls; J.F. Rothrock, et al.; December 1995
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