Taurine and NaCl: Untoward Effects and a Possible Role for the Heart

Taurine (2-aminoethanesulfonic acid) is ubiquitous in mammalian tissues [1], but its function(s) has yet to be elucidated fully. That it is able to influence electrolyte distribution, especially in excitable tissues, has long been known [2–4], as has its role in osmoregulation in mammals [5] and lower animals [6]. Taurine has been shown to have beneficial effects in certain disease models involving fluid and electrolyte imbalances [7,8].