What Are Taurine & Guarana?

Taurine and guarana are two of the most common active ingredients in energy drinks and weight-loss supplements sold on the American market. Taurine is an amino acid derivative naturally found in meat and fish; guarana is a caffeine-producing plant native to South America. Like caffeine, both substances seem to have safe, relatively mild effects on the consumer. However, as taurine and guarana become more ubiquitous, it is important to understand exactly what these substances are.

Processing

• "Natural" taurine, or L-taurine, is produced by combining methionine, cysteine and vitamin B-6. Synthetic taurine is obtained by ethylene oxide reacting with sodium bisulfite. Guarana seeds are processed in the same way that coffee beans are processed.

Positive Effects

• Taurine is already present in the human body, functioning in the brain and the heart; it helps crucial substances such as calcium and magnesium flow in and out of cell membranes. As a supplement, taurine is used to treat heart disease and hypertension, and it may be useful in the treatment of eye and liver disease. Guarana is being studied for its potential efficacy as a weight loss aid and to prevent heart attack and stroke. Researchers are also studying it for potential antioxidant or antibacterial effects.

Energy Beverages

• Both taurine and guarana are common in the American energy drink market; for example, Red Bull prominently features taurine as an active ingredient, and drinks such as Vitamin Water utilize guarana. Taurine, however, has not been proven to increase energy, and in medicine, it is actually used as a mild sedative to treat epilepsy. Guarana has not been evaluated by the FDA, but is generally regarded as safe in beverages: South America obtains more of its caffeine from guarana than from coffee, and guarana drinks outsell cola drinks in Brazil.

Dangers

• In drinks, taurine is often mixed with caffeine derived from guarana or other plants. Drinks combining taurine and caffeine have been associated with several cases of cardiac arrest, and though a definitive link has not been found, drinks like Red Bull have nevertheless been banned in countries such as Norway and France. Drinks that contain guarana and taurine are often combined with alcohol, which is unadvisable; mixing stimulants and depressants has a proven negative effect on the heart. Guarana, because of its high caffeine content, is also unadvisable for those with an overactive thyroid, anxiety disorder or possible pregnancy. In addition, weight-loss supplements containing taurine or guarana should always be carefully evaluated before use. As these supplements are not regulated by the FDA, many contain contaminated active ingredients or other potentially harmful substances.

Taurine Misconception

• Perhaps because of taurine's association with Red Bull, an urban legend has been formulated stating that taurine is sourced from bull urine and semen. Taurine is found in both substances, but neither bull urine nor bull semen is used to create the processed taurine found in foods, supplements or energy drinks.