Stressed Conditions with Reduction in B Vitamins and Taurine

This article discusses stressed conditions with reduction in B vitamins and Taurine.

The B Vitamins

Vitamin B1 is essential for the production of acetylcholine and the transmission of the influx nerves signals. The release of glucocorticoids by stress, stimulates the metabolism of vitamin B6-dependent amino acids in the liver, including tryptophan, the precursor of serotonin, and the tyrosine, the precursor of catecholamines. The initial effects of a vitamin B6 deficiency is the reduction of synthesis of GABA and serotonin. Under the action of stress, the synthesis of serotonin decreases in relation with the small amounts of tryptophan, vitamin B6 and B12.

The decrease of serotonin induces a dysfunction of serotonin which is source of anxiety. Vitamins B1 (thiamin), B3 (niacin), B5 (pantothenate), B6 (pyridoxine), B8 (biotin), B9 (folate) and B12 (cobalamin) share many signs of mental deficiency: fatigue, gradual decrease in concentration capacity and memory, headache, loss of appetite, decreased motivation, irritability, alterations in mood, difficulty sleeping, insomnia, anxiety or depression to suicidal tendencies. It seems essential to combine these vitamins, magnesium and taurine in the fight against stress and anxiety.

Taurine

Taurine is a derivative of sulfur amino acid, cysteine. It is a membrane stabilizer and maintains its structure, permeability and polarization. It is characterized by an ability to help maintain the homeostasis of cells subjected to stress. It improves the incorporation of intracellular magnesium and reduces the hyperexcitability of the cells. It reduces the amount of adrenaline secreted by the adrenal glands and the amount of norepinephrine secreted by the central nervous system under stress. It can be treated as a neuromodulator whose activity is comparable to that of GABA (g-amino butyric acid), an inhibitor of the nervous system. It inhibits the central dopaminergic system, thus contributing to regulations such as food intake and sleep.

Taurine is a conditionally essential nutrient, meaning it must provide the ground to alleviate the limits of capacity for synthesis of the body. A supplementation is particularly important in stressful situations where the needs are increased. Indeed, during stress, elevated adrenaline and magnesium deficiency causes an outflow of taurine cells and increases urinary loss of taurine. By fixing activity of magnesium and its calming effect, taurine, in synergy with magnesium and vitamin B6, can control the rate of catecholamines and excitatory neurotransmitters and enhances the action of GABA.

Thus, taurine reduces vulnerability to stress and protects us against its consequences. In addition, taurine has an anti-convulsant activity and reduces the tremor caused by fatigue. A vegetarian diet is deficient in taurine. In food including animal flesh, the plasma levels of taurine is higher and so is the proportion of taurine higher in fish consumers than among the consumers of meat. During stress, taurine supplementation is therefore the indispensable complement of magnesium supplementation.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nootropic
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stress_(biological)