Quote from Dr. Garrett Smith on November 14, 2018, 4:22 pm

Before I go into the following, I would like to make some statements.

1. I tried taurine in the past with my clients, before I knew about Poison/"Vitamin A" toxicity.  I stopped using it as they 1) generally didn't notice benefits, and 2) sometimes people decidedly felt worse.
2. Taurine seems to be a mild copper antagonist.  This could be why some people didn't feel good previously.  Back when I was using taurine, I mistakenly was still under the impression that hair mineral analysis was good at assessing copper status...I know now that it absolutely is NOT helpful, that's why the HTMA world talks constantly about "hidden copper toxicity", because their test of choice CAN'T FIND IT.  Looking back on my client pattern memories of that time, and how the taurine reactions were fairly rare, this falls in line with what I have seen on blood tests (copper deficiency generally being rare).  Copper deficiency was likely related to a negative taurine reaction.
3. I think that most "benefits" of single amino acid supplementation (like taurine) are found when people (or study animals) are tending towards an inadequate protein intake.  Hence, adding amino acids--the foundational building blocks of proteins--helps their situation.  An adequate protein intake in general (absolute minimum of 50 total grams from all sources daily for adults is what I go by) is absolutely necessary for preventing Poison/"Vitamin A" toxicity problems.  Taurine is also only found in animal foods, and this may be another reason why vegans/vegetarians/"plant-based" people tend to be extremely susceptible to Poison/"Vitamin A" toxicity (potential lack of total protein, definite lack of taurine).
4. I am hearing early reports that some people who seem intolerant of zinc, having positive results in their ability to tolerate zinc after adding taurine to their regimen.  This likely fits into the copper antagonist and anti-Poison/"Vitamin A" effects of taurine.  I have not verified these findings in my own clients to this point, however.

The taurine content of common foodstuffs. Taurine is only found in animal foods.

Effect of taurine on toxicity of vitamin A in rats

Protective effect of taurine, zinc and tocopherol on retinol-induced damage in human lymphoblastoid cells.

The biological activity of retinotaurine.

Biliary metabolites of all-trans-retinoic acid in the rat.