Taurine and Neonatal Nutrition

Excerpt

Taurine is one of the sulfur-containing amino-acids. Although, not a part of any protein, it is widely distributed in body and is the most abundant free amino acid in human breast milk. High concentration of taurine is found in brain, mature retina and inner ear [1]. In neural tissues, taurine functions as an intracellular organic osmolyte, thus regulating the neural cell volume. By modulating the intracellular calcium homeostasis, it has membrane stabilizing effect. Taurine also has cytoprotective effect against oxidative damage and glutamate-induced excitotoxicity [2]. Preterm neonates are more vulnerable to taurine deficiency due to low capacity for endogenous synthesis and higher renal loss. Human milk contains adequate amount of taurine and neonates fed with human milk may grow slower than neonates fed with formula milk but have better neurodevelopmental outcome [3]. Higher taurine content of human milk has been assigned as one of the reasons of beneficial effects of human milk feeding on neurodevelopmental outcome [4]. Prolonged feeding with taurine-deficient formula milk or parenteral nutrition has been associated with retinal degeneration, delayed auditory maturation, decreased bile acid secretion, lower fat absorption and hepatic cholestasis [1]. Recognition of potential harmful effects of taurine deficiency in the last decade of the twentieth century, led to recommendations about minimal taurine content in formula milk. Now, all formula milk preparations are supplemented with taurine to match the intake during human milk feeding (4.5–9 mg/kg/d) [5]. …