As 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.