Taurine is an amino acid found in protein-rich foods and leafy greens. It has been shown in clinical studies to assist in the treatment of chronic alcoholism. Patients suffering from the disease whose treatment is augmented with taurine supplementation are less likely to suffer from unbearable craving, which often leads to relapse. Withdrawal symptoms, like episodes of psychotic behavior, have been shown to be significantly reduced in people on the therapy as well. The complete mechanism of taurine's healing and neuroprotective properties is not completely understood, but many health care professionals and addiction specialists use it with success in a clinical setting.
Withdrawal Attenuation
Chronic alcohol abuse leads to severe alcohol dependence in which a patient can experience a myriad of life-threatening negative withdrawal symptoms. As the patient drinks regularly, significant changes become apparent in the central nervous system (CNS). Then, when the patient abstains from alcohol, the brain, which has become dependent on alcohol, exhibits dysfunction. This dysfunction is a major contributing factor in the patient relapsing early in sobriety. The therapeutic use of taurine can attenuate some of these CNS irregularities and also offer a prophylactic neuroprotective service to brain cells that may be affected by the disease in the future.
Neuromodulation
Taurine is a common amino acid that can be found in almost all cells in the animal kingdom. However, it is found most prominently in electrically excitable cells, such as those in the brain and heart. It acts as a neuromodulater in the brain, not unlike well-known neurotransmitters dopamine and serotonin. Taurine is thought to be a significantly important chemical in the reward pathway of the brain, which is implicated in all types of addictive disease.
GABA Connection
While still being studied, researchers have found a link between taurine and the neurotransmitter GABA. GABA, the focus of benzodiazepine drugs such as clonazepam and diazepam, is an inhibitory neurotransmitter that is severely deficient in those who are withdrawing from alcohol dependence; its depletion causes the most serious and disturbing symptoms of the phenomenon. Often, GABA drugs are given in severe withdrawal to prevent seizure and heart attack. Taurine has been shown to compete for the binding of GABA at its receptor sites. This fact has led some researchers as of 2011 to believe part of its action may be due to this interaction.
Research
Taurine is on the forefront of alcoholism treatment research as of 2011. A report from Baylor University shows the promising future that taurine may have in this arena. The researchers involved are hoping to receive additional funding to further research.
