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Edited by Russell L. Blaylock, M.D.
Blaylock Wellness ReportLiving a Long, Healthy Life
December 2016 Vol. 13, No. 12
Key Points• Taurine stimulates stem
cells that repair the brain
• As people age, the level of taurine in their bodies
declines
• Stroke damage can be limited with sufficient levels of the
amino acid
• Taurine increases blood flow to the brain to heal head
trauma
• Many types of pain can be inhibited by taurine
• Taurine triggers insulin release to fight diabetes
• It helps protect tissues from harmful chemotherapy drugs
ASK DR. BLAYLOCK
• How do you stop blood clots?
• What is cerebrovascular disease?
Although most people still haven’t even heard of it, taurine is
actually the most abundant amino acid in the human body, with
especially high concentrations occurring in the brain, retina, and
heart.
Usually, amino acids act as building blocks for proteins. But
some, such as taurine, act alone to carry out many critical
functions.
Unfortunately, most doctors ignore the benefits and essential
nature of taurine. This oversight can lead to myriad problems for
the large number of people who might benefit from supplementation
with this safe and necessary amino acid.
Worse yet, they ignore it because they do not read medical
literature and research that does not focus on prescription drugs,
the usual clinical studies, or mainstream treatments. As a result,
too many people suffer needlessly.
In this month’s newsletter, I will correct that oversight by
telling you some of the impressive things researchers have learned
about this simple but powerful amino acid, taurine.
Reducing Heart Attack DamageThe heart normally has a very high
concentration of taurine as well
as glutamate, another amino acid that drives heart muscle
contraction and regulates heart nerves. But excessive glutamate can
make the heart irritable, leading to arrhythmia — abnormal heart
contractions.
Taurine counteracts heart muscle excitations to prevent this
from happening.
In addition, taurine increases heart muscle energy production by
stimulating the mitochondria in heart tissue cells, the main
sources of energy.1 When glutamate is released, taurine is released
at the same time to protect against potential damage by the
glutamate, should its levels get too high.
In one study of 50 people with atrial fibrillation (a common and
dangerous type of arrhythmia), researchers found high levels of
glutamate and taurine.2
One of the major causes of death after a heart attack is
arrhythmia, which occurs because the heart is suddenly flooded with
too much
Taurine: The Miracle Amino Acid
The
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oxygen as blood flow resumes in the damaged heart.In one study,
researchers using an animal
model of a human heart attack demonstrated that a derivative
form of taurine called taurepar completely prevented post-heart
attack arrhythmias such as extrasystoles, ventricular tachycardia,
and ventricular fibrillation.
This prevented experimental animals from dying after suffering a
heart attack.3
The result was confirmed in a similar study that used a
taurine-magnesium combination.4
Taurine deficiencies have been detected in people with several
different types of irregular heartbeats, including premature atrial
contractions (PACs), premature ventricular contractions (PVCs), and
atrial fibrillation.
In one study, giving 10 to 20 grams of taurine a day reduced
PACs by 50 percent and prevented all PVCs.5 When arginine was added
to the dosage, PACs were eliminated altogether.
Taurine reduces these arrhythmias through antioxidant action and
by decreasing lipid peroxidation, both of which are major
contributors to the damage that occurs from heart attacks and heart
failure.
Another study found that ventricular fibrillation — a major
cause of death following a heart attack — was reduced from 83
percent in untreated hearts to 36 percent in those given
taurine.6
In the period following the heart vessel blockage (which
precipitates heart attack), ventricular fibrillation was reduced to
16 percent.
In all such studies, lipid peroxidation within the damaged heart
was dramatically reduced.
Taurine has also been shown to significantly improve the
effectiveness of traditional arrhythmia prevention drugs.7
All of these studies demonstrate that taurine can improve heart
muscle function and heart energy metabolism, as well as reducing
heart muscle inflammation and oxidative stress — thus preventing
the potentially fatal arrhythmias that occur after a heart
attack.
Stimulating Memory Formation, Protecting Against Brain Aging
Like the heart, the nervous system contains very high levels of
taurine, which balances excitation and inhibition of neurons.
This is not only vital for preventing brain damage, but also
necessary for normal brain function and behavior.
Taurine occurs in very high concentrations during brain
development, and has been shown to stimulate the neural stem cells
necessary to produce neurons (brain cells) during development.
8
It is particularly important in the development of the visual
areas of the cortex.9
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Blaylock Wellness Report do not necessarily reflect those of
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In fact, taurine plays a major role in stimulating many types of
stem cells, even in adults. These stem cells are important for
brain repair, especially in older adults.10
Inflammation damages these reparative stem cells, interfering
with older people’s recovery from various types of brain injury and
disease. And as we age, our brains become progressively more
inflamed, leading to loss of brain cells.
One of the earliest brain areas damaged by neurodegenerative
diseases such as Alzheimer’s are the synaptic connections between
neurons.
Taurine stimulates repair of these damaged synapses.11
Loss of synaptic connections is also one of the most common
findings associated with brain aging.
Studies have shown that taurine deficiency can lead to memory
impairment, and that supplementation can improve memory and memory
retention in older animals.12
One way taurine improves memory is by stimulating what’s called
long-term potentiation (LTP), which is the process that the
hippocampus uses to form memories.13
Another effect of brain aging is a decrease in special brain
cell receptors called GABA(A) receptors, which calm neurons by
counteracting excitation caused by the amino acid glutamate.
This prevents brains cells and synapses from being damaged by
excitotoxicity.
Studies have shown that taurine prevents age-related loss of
GABA(A) receptors.14
It is also known that dopamine-releasing neurons in the brain
play a major role in memory formation. Taurine supports their
function as well.15
One of the most important ways taurine protects the brain is by
reducing inflammation. It does this by forming a compound within
inflammatory white blood cells called macrophages.16
The compound, called taurine chloramine, inhibits nitric oxide
and reduces the inflammatory cytokine TNF-alpha, both of which play
a role in the damage that occurs with aging.
This anti-inflammatory effect is so powerful that some have
proposed it should be used to treat autoimmune disorders,
especially psoriasis, vitiligo, alopecia areata, and possibly even
rheumatoid arthritis.17
Glutamate is the most abundant amino acid in the brain, but it
also has the potential to cause the most damage to the brain’s
cells if it is outside the cells in too high a concentration. (The
concentration of glutamate inside brain cells should be 1,000 times
higher than outside.)
For this reason, the brain has elaborate mechanisms to keep
glutamate levels low outside of brain cells.
But sometimes these protective mechanisms fail, and the
glutamate levels outside brain cells rise, leading to destruction
of certain brain cells and their connections.
We call this destructive process excitotoxicity, because the
brain cells become excited to the point that they die.
Considerable evidence suggests that excitotoxicity plays a role
in a great number of neurological disorders, including:
• Alzheimer’s dementia• Parkinson’s disease• ALS • Huntington’s
disease• Strokes• Head injuries• Brain infections (encephalitis and
meningitis)• Autoimmune disorders (multiple sclerosis)
Aging Lowers Taurine LevelsAs people age, the level of taurine
in their
bodies declines. As a result, organs and tissue become
vulnerable to serious damage from chronic inflammatory disorders
such as autoimmune diseases, latent infections, smoldering
infections, and aging itself.
Chronically ill patients, especially those who require intensive
care for prolonged periods, experience rapid and dramatic decrease
in taurine tissue levels, which can profoundly affect their
recovery.
Taurine has been shown to have anti-inflammatory, antioxidative,
antipain, and antidepressant properties, as well as enhancing
mitochondrial function. All of these properties make useful it for
recovering from and preventing a number of diseases.
In the brain, taurine acts as a neuromodulator, which means it
balances excitation of the nervous system — vital for brain
protection and healthy brain function. It also regulates the water
content of cells.
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Brain inflammation is a major cause of glutamate leaking out of
brain cells and triggering excitotoxicity.
I coined the term immunoexcitotoxicity to describe this link
between inflammation and excitotoxicity.18
Taurine can protect the brain from excess glutamate outside of
cells. When glutamate receptors are activated, there is a
simultaneous release of taurine into the spaces around brain cells
and synpases.19
If there is not enough taurine, excitotoxicity will occur.The
main source of brain
inflammation is activation of special immune cells called
microglia, which are scattered throughout the brain.
Microglia are to the brain what white blood cells are to the
rest of the body — they go to a source of infection to destroy the
infecting agent.
In the absence of infection, microglia remain quiet, yet they
are always busy sampling the fluid around brain cells and synapses
to make sure glutamate levels are not too high and that no foreign
organisms have entered the brain.
But these immune cells are activated easily and rapidly (within
a number of seconds), and under certain circumstances can remain
active for very long periods — even decades — as occurs with head
injuries.20, 21
When microglia are activated, they release a number of
destructive compounds, including inflammatory chemicals (cytokines,
chemokines, and interferons), prostaglandins, and excitotoxins
(glutamate, aspartate, and quiniolinic acid).
Microglia activation is now recognized as a major factor in a
number of different neurological conditions, including:
• Neurodegenerative diseases• Strokes• Multiple sclerosis• Brain
trauma• Brain infections• Brain aging Taurine can quiet microglial
activation, thus
protecting the brain from these conditions.While taurine has not
been adequately tested in
human cases of Alzheimer’s disease, it has been tested in animal
models of the disease.
In one such study, researchers added taurine to animals’
drinking water for six weeks and found that it restored their brain
function to the level of normal control mice.22
Other studies suggest that taurine may be beneficial in
Alzheimer’s dementia.23
Studies of patients with Alzheimer’s have shown that those with
more severe disease have higher spinal fluid levels of glutamate
and aspartate, and lower levels of taurine.24
From this evidence, we can assume that supplementing such
patients with taurine would benefit. More carefully conducted
studies will tell us for certain.
Preventing Stroke DamageLike many other neurological
disorders, strokes damage the brain through the process of
immunoexcitotoxicity.
What this means is that the part of the brain most damaged by a
stroke becomes inflamed and experiences excitotoxicity.
Microglial activation occurs throughout the zone of the damaged
brain, particularly surrounding the center of the stroke.
These activated immune cells trigger immunoexcitotoxicity.
At the same time, other glial cells release taurine in
Other studies suggest that taurine may be beneficial in
Alzheimer’s dementia. Studies of patients with Alzheimer’s have
shown that those with more severe disease have higher spinal fluid
levels of glutamate and aspartate, and lower levels of taurine.
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an effort to protect the brain cells from damage.In a study that
used a rat model of human stroke,
researchers found that feeding the animals taurine significantly
reduced the amount of brain that was damaged by the stroke.
In addition, the animals recovered much better than untreated
animals did.25
Examination of the animals that were given taurine also
demonstrated significant elevation of antioxidant enzymes and other
protective compounds (SOD and glutathione) in the brains, more
energy (ATP) production, and reduced amounts of lipid peroxidation
products.
Brain cells damaged by a stroke are not all killed — some are
merely injured, and if they are protected can recover.
Unfortunately, doctors in many stroke centers do not use methods
known to protect these injured brain cells. As a result, a stroke
victim will be much worse off than they would have been had these
special methods of protection been used.
One of the most damaging reactions that can occur after a stroke
is a process called a reperfusion injury. What happens is that for
a short time after a stroke occurs, a large amount of blood is
channeled into the brain area of surrounding damage (referred to as
the penumbra). This influx of blood exposes brain cells to high
concentrations of oxygen.
Unfortunately, this makes the damage worse because enormous
numbers of free radicals and lipid peroxidation products are
formed.
Reperfusion injury can change a minor stroke into a major one,
leaving the stroke victim with severe paralysis.
Studies have shown that taurine significantly protects injured
brain cells from reperfusion damage, and greatly improves the
neurological outcome and possibility of better recovery.26
By protecting these damaged — but not dead — neurons, taurine
greatly reduces the area of damage in the brain. It was also shown
to reduce brain swelling and lower inflammation (less interleukin
in experimental animals that suffered a stroke.)
In addition, taurine reduced nitric oxide in the area, adding to
the protection.27
One of the primary methods for treating a stroke is to give the
patient an enzyme to dissolve the clot. While this treatment
restores blood flow to that part of the brain, it also raises the
risk of reperfusion damage, which can be deadly.
In an animal stroke model that used such an enzyme, researchers
found that the area of the damaged brain was greatly reduced, the
animal had far less neurological damage, and there was better blood
flow to the damaged brain if animals were given supplemental
taurine.28
Reducing Epileptic SeizuresIn both animal models and human
cases of epilepsy, there are high levels of glutamate and low
levels of taurine in the hippocampus, which means that the brain is
hyperexcitable.
In animal models of epilepsy, taurine has been shown to reduce
seizures.
In the few studies done on humans with seizures, taurine
initially reduced the incidence of seizures but over a long period
the seizures returned.
There are several reasons why this may have happened. One is
that
taurine is slow to enter the brain and may require higher doses
taken over a longer period. In addition, many foods contain
excitotoxin additives in high concentrations, which would
counteract the benefits of the taurine.
Early studies suggested that in people with epilepsy,
supplementing with taurine not only raised taurine levels in the
spinal fluid but also lowered the high levels of glutamate. High
levels of glutamate are associated with causing the seizures.
Because high levels of free radicals
and lipid peroxidation products and inflammation are all
associated with seizures, things that reduce these processes, such
as taurine, curcumin, luteolin, apigenin, resveratrol, hesperidin,
DHA oils, magnesium, and quercetin would all reduce the risk of
seizures occurring — especially if used in combination.
It is also important to avoid sugar and high glycemic foods,
because hypoglycemia is a major trigger for seizures. A high intake
of vegetables, avoiding red meats, and avoiding omega-6 oils will
also reduce seizures.
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But keeping your taurine level high by taking a daily supplement
is better than trying to convince a doctor to let you have the
taurine after you have a stroke.
Unfortunately, most doctors won’t even consider it, because they
have never heard of this research and know nothing about
taurine.
Healing Head InjuriesIt’s estimated that 1.7 million people
sustain head
injuries each year in the United States alone. Of those, some
52,000 will die as a result of their
injury. Of course, a lot of attention has recently been
focused on repeated head injuries associated with contact sports
— especially football — leading to a dementia-like
neurodegenerative disorder called chronic traumatic encephalopathy
(CTE).
In the past, scientists believed that most of the
damage to the brain occurred at the time of the accident.
But newer research has shown that a great deal of the damage
actually occurs after the incident, and involves a number of
complex reactions within the injured brain. The principal one of
these reactions is immunoexcitotoxicity.
Most research on traumatic brain injuries is done using animals
exposed to controlled impact brain injury.
In this way, researchers are able to grade the injury as mild,
moderate, or severe.
Such models also allow researchers to study what is going on in
the brain, even on a subcellular level, after the injury
occurs.
In one such study, researchers found that feeding animals
taurine increased blood flow to the brain, improved energy
production by mitochondria within the injured brain cells, and
significantly reduced the amount of damage sustained after a head
trauma.29
One of the major areas that is damaged in a head injury is the
white matter, which contains the neural tracts in the brain.
Taurine has been shown to protect these neural tracts in
brain-injured animals.30
When the brain is injured, there is a large buildup of
inflammatory cytokines, not only in the area of direct damage, but
also in the surrounding brain.
As noted, these chemicals are secreted from activated microglia,
which release high levels of glutamate at the same time.
Microglia can remain activated in some brain injury cases for as
long as 17 years after the incident. In such cases, the microglia
would constantly release these damaging immunoexcitotoxic compounds
for almost two decades.31
Taurine has been shown to lower the levels of inflammatory
cytokines and improve the
A note from Dr. Blaylock: Advertisements for various supplements
may appear in the newsletter or attached to the newsletter. I have
nothing to do with these advertisements and do not endorse them.
The only
supplements I endorse are those that I list in the newsletter.
This is not to say that I object to the supplements; it’s just that
I am not familiar with the supplements being advertised.
Please note that this advice is generic and not specific to any
individual. You should consult with your doctor before undertaking
any medical or nutritional course of action.
Taurine Prevents Hearing LossThere are many cause of hearing
loss, but one of
the most devastating is sensorineural hearing loss in which
there is damage to the nerves within the hearing apparatus of the
ear, primarily the cochlea. This type of hearing loss is common
with aging, and also affects young people who are exposed to loud
music.
A recent study found that taurine could stimulate cochlear stem
cells and improve their ability to survive — which means it could
significantly improve the repair of damaged hearing nerves.
In animal models, it improved hearing and prevented
neurodegeneration of the cochlea.
Immunoexcitotoxicity plays a major role in damage to the cochlea
in hearing loss, and taurine has been shown to reduce excitotoxic
damage as well as inflammation in the cochlea.
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neurological outcome of the animals following a head
injury.32
It also lowers glutamate levels, inhibits microglial activation,
acts as an antioxidant, inhibits inflammatory prostaglandins and
nitric oxide, reduces brain swelling, protects the blood-brain
barrier, and increases brain antioxidant enzymes and glutathione —
all of which protects the brain from suffering greater
damage.33
Counteracting Toxic SubstancesAll of us are exposed to numerous
toxic substances
such as lead, mercury, aluminum, arsenic, manganese, pesticides,
and even anesthetic agents — and on a daily basis.
One of the most damaging of these toxins is aluminum, which we
are exposed to through vaccines. This dramatically increases levels
of lipid peroxidation products and free radicals in the brain.
Aluminum also weakens the body’s protective antioxidant systems
and interferes with cell energy production.
Aluminum has been shown to increase brain levels of glutamate
(which causes excitotoxicity) and lower brain levels of taurine,
which leads to problems with memory and learning.
In addition, aluminum reduces the levels of the protective
receptors for GABA(A).
It can also activate microglia, thus triggering
immunoexcitotoxicity.
Supplementing with taurine corrected all of these abnormalities,
as well as improving memory and learning.34
Manganese is another major brain toxin. When it is found in high
concentrations, it is associated with Parkinson’s disease.
One of the major effects of manganese is that it raises the
level of an enzyme (acetylcholinesterase) that destroys
acetylcholine, the neurotransmitter associated with memory.
Manganese also decreases the enzyme that forms new acetylcholine
(choline acetyltransferase).
Taurine protects against manganese damage to the brain by
correcting both of the defects of acetylcholine metabolism.35
Pesticide exposure is strongly correlated to Alzheimer’s and
Parkinson’s diseases.
In a recent study, researchers found that taurine could protect
rats from brain damage caused by both chlorpyrifos (a commonly used
organophosphate pesticide) and lead.36
Rotenone, another common pesticide that is also used to kill
invasive fish in lakes and rivers, is strongly connected to
Parkinson’s disease.
A recent study found that taurine, or taurine
Chelation Treats Vascular DiseaseOver the years, I have been
asked about chelation therapy for atherosclerosis, particularly
in preventing heart attacks and peripheral vascular disease. The
medical literature I examined was inconclusive, but most such
studies were not objective. Rather, they were attempts to prove the
procedure was worthless.
When I was still in practice, I was invited by an owner of a
chelation clinic to review his results and tour his clinic. I found
the clinic filled with patients with advanced cardiovascular and
peripheral vascular disease — most of whom
the medical profession had declared incurable.
The owner agreed to allow me to interview some of his patients.
One man told me that before chelation treatments he had such bad
angina that he couldn’t even do simple tasks around the house. But
after several months of chelation, he was walking long distances
and enjoying life once again.
One of the most impressive studies I read was an examination of
77 patients with calcified coronary arteries — considered a
high-risk sign for heart attack — who were treated with a
combination
of chelation, tetracycline, and a complex of vitamins, minerals,
and flavonoids. They were then re-tested after four months of
treatment. The researchers reported that angina (chest pain) was
significantly reduced or disappeared in 84 percent of patients
getting chelation treatment. And the calcium in their coronary
arteries was significantly reduced — something traditional medicine
says cannot be done.
Interestingly, the patients’ lipid profiles returned to normal,
an outcome that cannot be achieved by statins.
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combined with NAC, protected against the brain-damaging effects
of this pesticide.37
Taurine was also shown to protect against alcohol damage to the
cerebellum, a major site of injury caused by chronic
alcoholism.38
One of the most commonly used anesthetic agents is called
isoflurane, which is known to cause memory and learning problems in
patients after surgery.
Studies using rats exposed to isoflurane found that taurine
could prevent damage to the hippocampus (where memories are
created), and prevented memory loss in the animals.39
Protection of EyesLike the brain, the retina — the
light-sensitive layer
of tissue in the eye — has a very high taurine level, which
functions to protect these delicate neurons from damage by
inflammation, free radicals, lipid peroxidation products, and
excitotoxins.
Studies have shown that producing a taurine deficiency in
animals can lead to destruction of the retina, with damage
occurring to both photoreceptor cells (cones) and retinal ganglion
cells.
These are the two most sensitive types of retinal cells to
taurine deficiency.40
A particular seizure drug is known to cause severe depletion of
taurine from the retina, and therefore can cause severe retinal
damage.41
The same study found that taurine could prevent destruction of
the retinal ganglion cells in animal models of glaucoma and
retinitis pigmentosa — two conditions that often lead to
blindness.
Diabetes, like glaucoma, causes the formation of abnormal blood
vessels in the retina that deprive it of taurine.
In animal models, supplementing with taurine protected the
retina against diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma damage.42, 43
The main protective effect of taurine is blocking excitotoxicity
in the retina — the principal cause of destruction of retinal
ganglion cells in glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy.
Reduction of Nerve PainA great deal of research has demonstrated
that
immunoexcitotoxicity is playing a major role in pain, especially
chronic pain.
Diet: First Line of Defense Against FluOne of the illusions
perpetuated
by vaccine manufacturers is that vaccines are the answer to
preventing infectious diseases such as the flu. Vaccines increase
antibodies against a particular strain of microorganism, but our
main defense against infections is not antibodies.
Rather, cellular immunity is our primary defense against
infection. These cells are the early responders to infection and do
most of the killing. And vaccines can actually suppress cellular
immunity.
Your main defense against infections, which can have both
positive and negative effects, is diet.
Diets that include a lot of meat, especially beef, supply
large
amounts of absorbable iron, which can worsen infections and
increase free radical damage.
High levels of simple carbohydrates and sugar feed bacteria,
suppress immunity, and stimulate free radical damage by increasing
advanced glycation end products (AGEs) in tissues.
We see high levels of AGEs in people with diabetes. Diets high
in sugars and simple carbohydrates are also a major cause of
atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries).
High intake of nutrient-dense vegetables (cruciferous
vegetables), along with some fruits and spices can reduce one’s
risk of infections.
Many of the flavonoids in
plants inhibit viral replication and therefore prevent viral
infection of cells. They are also quite potent anti-inflammatories
and strengthen tissue barriers to microorganism invasion.
People should eat at least 10 servings of fruits and vegetables
a day. However, be warned that the fruits are high in sugars, so
should be eaten only in limited amounts.
Water should be either filtered or distilled. I prefer to use a
distiller that distills and also removes volatile contaminants by a
carbon filter.
You can then add a capsule of magnesium citrate/malate to the
water, which will reduce fluoride toxicity and reduce
inflammation.
BLAYLOCK TIP
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In many painful conditions — such as the chronic pain that can
follow herpes zoster (shingles) — intense inflammation and
excitotoxicity is occurring within the ganglia (nerve cell
clusters) and spinal nuclei that carry pain impulses.44, 45
By reducing inflammation and excitotoxicity, taurine has been
shown to reduce chronic pain.
One particular form of pain that is especially overwhelming is
trigeminal neuralgia, a spasmotic triggering of intense,
lightening-like pain striking one side of the face.
The pain can be so intense that it has even driven people to
suicide.
One study found that taurine significantly reduced pain
responses in the trigeminal nucleus neurons, a site where the pain
originates.46
It appears to do this by stimulating special pain-inhibiting
receptors called glycine and GABA(A) receptors in the
pain-regulating nucleus of this nerve. These receptors counteract
excitotoxicity.
Taurine has also been shown to inhibit a number of other types
of pain, and should be especially useful against diabetic
neuropathy.47
Taurine Fights DiabetesDiabetes is especially damaging to the
brain. Things
that improve insulin function and release of insulin improve all
aspects of diabetes.
Taurine has been shown to stimulate the release of insulin from
the pancreas and also to improve insulin sensitivity within the
tissues themselves — two important processes that are impaired in
cases of diabetes.48
Mouse models of diabetes have also shown that taurine
supplementation improved insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance
(control of blood sugar).49
Diabetes is especially harmful to the brain because it
suppresses major antioxidant enzymes and glutathione.
The disease also increases enzymes that destroy the
neurotransmitter acetylcholine and another enzyme that forms this
memory-associated neurotransmitter. This means that diabetes
impairs memory and learning, especially in the elderly.
Diabetes also triggers inflammation in the brain, which taurine
reduces by inhibiting microglial activation and by stimulating
anti-inflammatory mechanisms as well.
It also improves the glucose transporter in the brain, which is
responsible for getting glucose — fuel — into brain cells.50
Taurine has been shown to reverse all of these harmful effects
of diabetes on the brain.51
Because of its effects on insulin secretion, taurine should
always be taken with meals for those having reactive
hypoglycemia.
Diabetics should take it on an empty stomach, at least 45
minutes before or after a meal.
Taurine Protects the Body During Chemotherapy
Most of the studies on taurine’s relation to cancer have used
animal models of human types of cancer. In one study, taurine was
shown to inhibit breast cancer by altering cancer cell
metabolism.52
Taurine plays a more direct role in breast cancer by actually
killing breast cancer cells themselves.53
Research has also shown that taurine kills colon cancer —
another very common type. It appears to kill these cancer cells by
stimulating a gene called the p53.
Taurine can reduce side effects — including damage to healthy
organs and tissues — of commonly used chemotherapy agents.
In one study, researchers recruited 40 young adults undergoing
chemotherapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia.54
In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study, they
How to Take TaurineTaurine most often comes in a capsule with
doses
of either 500 or 1,000 mg. Fortunately, it is water-soluble,
which means you can avoid taking a lot of capsules by emptying the
capsules in 2 to 4 ounces of filtered or distilled water.
The dose varies with the condition being treated. For
maintenance, take 1,000 mg three times a day. For serious
illnesses, the dose may be as high as 4 to 10 grams three times a
day. If you have a 1,000 mg capsule, that would be approximately 4
to 10 capsules three times a day.
It is best absorbed on an empty stomach, but if you have
reactive hypoglycemia, you might have to take it with food.
Taurine is very safe, even in large doses.
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Page 10 The Blaylock Wellness Report December 2016
DrBlaylock.Newsmax.com
found that the patients receiving the taurine had improved
function of the liver and kidneys, organs that are frequently
damaged by chemotherapy. They also had less oxidative damage.
In addition, those on taurine had higher white blood cell
counts, offering them better protection against infections — a
major complication for leukemia patients.
A related study found taurine also dramatically reduced nausea
and vomiting in leukemia patients receiving chemotherapy.55
Many chemotherapy agents cause serious damage to the intestines,
a condition called mucositis.
Researchers used rats exposed to the commonly used chemotherapy
agent 5-fluorouracil, which causes severe mucositis.56 They found
that the animals given taurine along with the chemotherapy agent
had a dramatic reduction in mucositis.
Taurine also markedly prevented 5-fluorouracil’s usual severe
damage to the kidney, testis, and prostate.
Finally, taurine was also shown to dramatically protect the
liver from damage from the chemotherapy agent doxorubicin.57
Taurine’s Other Beneficial EffectsOne of the most dramatic
effects of taurine is liver
protection. Studies have shown that taurine protects the liver
from many types of injury, such as parasitic damage.
It also lowers very low-density cholesterol, improves milder
cases of hepatic cirrhosis-related brain damage (hepatic
encephalopathy), protects the liver from iron overload, and reduces
alcoholic liver damage.58-62
Of particular importance, taurine has been shown to protect the
liver in cases of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
(steatohepatitis) — a disorder linked to high fructose corn syrup
use that has been increasing dramatically in the United States,
even among the young. 63, 64
Taurine deficiency has been linked to obesity. It is also
essential to muscle function and protecting muscles from
inflammation and loss of muscle mass with aging.65
Taurine also reduces the inflammatory effect of abdominal fat
accumulation, a major cause of many diseases.66
A number of “energy drinks” have added taurine, but
also contain very high levels of caffeine. Several deaths of
young people have occurred from consuming these drinks in
excess.
The question has been asked if taurine plays any part in this
problem. It was concluded after examination that, in fact, taurine
protected the heart from many of the harmful effects of excess
caffeine.67
In my opinion, these drinks should be taken off the market as
they not only adversely affect the heart, they also damage the
brain. It may be that even higher doses of taurine would have been
even more protective.
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December 2016 The Blaylock Wellness Report Page 11
NewsmaxHealth.com
How Do You Treat Meniere’s?Q: My son has Meniere’s disease. He
also has rheumatoid arthritis that is being treated with Humira.
His physician has suggested oral magnesium. Do you think curcumin
will help?
— Marion R., Fort Collins, Colo.
A: Meniere’s disease is an inner ear condition that causes
dizziness and vertigo. It can be very debilitating. Magnesium is
important to take, and it is critical to avoid all excitotoxin food
additives and foods high in glutamate.
Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) will precipitate episodes, so you
should avoid high-glycemic foods, which will cause your blood sugar
to spike and then crash.
Arthritis worsens the condition because of the high levels of
inflammation.
Curcumin, quercetin, and silymarin will help, along with the B
vitamins benfotamine ( long-acting form of vitamin B1), pyridoxal-5
phosphate, and riboflavin-5-phosphate. Taurine should help as
well.
Avoid omega-6 oils and increase intake of omega-3 oils.
Can Blood Clots Be Controlled?Q: My fiancee’s parents both died
from blood clot complications, and an uncle and brother had heart
attacks. Is there a regimen that could help her avoid blood clot
problems?
— Terence S., Alexandria, Va.
A: One of the best ways to control blood clots is to increase
intake of slow-release magnesium. A number of natural compounds
reduce coagulation, including ginkgo biloba, omega-3 oils,
vinpocetine,
and curcumin. The anticoagulation in most of these is mild to
moderate. Water intake is important as well.
Can I Reduce Parkinson’s Drug?Q: I was diagnosed about three
years ago with Parkinson’s disease. I am taking carbidopa. If I
begin taking other supplements and eat a healthier diet, can I
reduce my prescription?
— Diana S., Rainier, Ore.
A: The most important early step to take with Parkinson’s is to
control your diet. This means getting a high intake of
nutrient-dense vegetables, and avoiding red meats, all sources of
supplemental iron, omega-6 oils, food additive excitotoxins,
pesticides/herbicides, vaccines, and fluoride.
It is also important to increase intake of the omega-3 fatty
acid DHA.
Take multiple B vitamins daily, as well as mixed tocopherol and
tocotrienol vitamin E. Take the following dissolved in extra virgin
olive oil: curcumin, quercetin, silymarin, and baicalein. Taurine
and slow-release magnesium are also important.
Regular moderate exercise is also critical. This is the basic
beginning.
What About Medicinal Mushrooms?Q: I know your thoughts on
mushrooms and excitotoxicity. Does that apply medicinal mushrooms
such as reishi, chaga, lions mane, and cordyceps? What do you think
of collagen powder?
— Kristen H., Carefree, Ariz.
A: Medicinal mushrooms are used mostly for immune stimulation.
If they are purified they can be
Ask Dr. BlaylockAttention Blaylock Readers:Dr. Blaylock welcomes
any questions or comments you would like to share.Each month, he
will select a few to be published and answered in the
newsletter.Please remember that he cannot answer every
question.When submitting a question or comment, please include full
name, city, and state.Please e-mail the doctor at:
[email protected].
-
Page 12 The Blaylock Wellness Report December 2016
DrBlaylock.Newsmax.com
useful, but I prefer beta-1,3/1,6-glucan instead, which is the
active ingredient in these mushrooms.
As to your second question, I do not like protein powders
because of the excitotoxicity. Collagen powders do have high levels
of glutamate, so they should be avoided.
There are other alternatives to these products for joint pains,
such as taurine, curcumin, quercetin, hesperidin, EGCG, omega-3
oils, luteolin, apigenin and magnesium. In combination they work
even better.
What Is Cerebral Vascular Disease?Q: Two years ago, I was
diagnosed with cerebral vascular disease. No-one seems to have
heard of it. What is my outlook, and what should be my diet?
— Valerie F., Loughton, Essex, U.K.
A: Cerebrovascular disease is actually fairly common, and
involves mostly smaller arteries. Inflammation plays a major role
in this disorder.
Keeping well-hydrated is important. Omega-3 oils
will reduce the inflammation and improve blood flow in the
brain. Ginkgo biloba will do the same.
Curcumin, quercetin, and magnesium all play important roles in
treatment. Vitamin C will strengthen the walls of the blood
vessels, which is important.
Drinking white or green tea three times a day will also reduce
inflammation in the brain and blood vessels.
Will Vitamin B12 Cause Cancer?Q: I just purchased vitamin B12
lozenges, and each one is 1,000 mcg. Is this too much daily, or
will it cause cancer cell growth?
— Donna T., Escondido, Calif.A: There is no known toxic dose of
vitamin B12 in its natural form, such as methylcobalamin. I take
10,000 mcg a day in the sublingual form.
As far as stimulating cancer cell growth, cancer cells depend on
DNA generation, which is linked to vitamin B12 and folate, but
studies have not shown any link to cancer causation.
About Dr. BlaylockDr. Russell Blaylock is a nationally
recognized, board-certified neurosurgeon, health practitioner,
author, and
lecturer. He attended the Louisiana State University School of
Medicine in New Orleans and completed his internship and
neurosurgical residency at the Medical University of South Carolina
in Charleston, S.C. For 25 years, he has practiced neurosurgery in
addition to having a nutritional practice. He recently retired from
his neurosurgical duties to devote his full attention to
nutritional studies and research. Dr. Blaylock has authored four
books on nutrition and wellness, including “Excitotoxins: The Taste
That Kills,” “Health and Nutrition Secrets That Can Save Your
Life,” “Natural Strategies for Cancer Patients,” and his most
recent work, “Cellular and Molecular Biology of Autism Spectrum
Disorders,” edited by Anna Strunecka. An in-demand guest for radio
and television programs, he lectures extensively to both lay and
professional medical audiences on a variety of nutrition related
subjects.
He is the 2004 recipient of the Integrity in Science Award
granted by the Weston A. Price Foundation. He serves on the
editorial staffs of the Surgical Neurology International and the
Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons, official publication
of the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons. He also
serves as an assistant editor-in-chief for the journal Surgical
Neurology International. He was also a lecturer for the Foundation
on Anti-Aging and Regenerative Medicine. At present, he is a
reviewer for the journal Food & Chemical Toxicology and other
journals.
Dr. Blaylock previously served as clinical assistant professor
of neurosurgery at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in
Jackson, Miss.
To renew or subscribe to The Blaylock Wellness Report go to:
NewsmaxHealth.com/Newsletters or call 1-800-485-4350
http://www.newsmax.com/health/Newsletters/
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