Razi Journal of Medical Sciences

  Background: Although a series of cardiovascular risk factors have been recently identified, taurine deficiency has been demonstrated as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease and has been poorly investigated in patients with Cardiac Heart Failure (CHF).The aim of present study was to investigate response of the cardiovascular physiological and functional markers following the short-term taurine supplementation and Burce protocol in patients with CHF.

  Methods : In a semi-experimental design, sixteen male CHF patients (classified in class II & III) aged between 50 to 65 yr. were randomly divided into taurine and placebo groups. The taurine group received 1.5 gr. of taurine (3 times daily 500 mg capsules), while at the same time, the placebo group consumed starch capsules for duration of 2 weeks. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, maximal activity time on treadmill by Bruce protocol, Vo2 peak and plasma taurine, cardiac troponin I and CPK-MB concentrations were measured before and after taurine supplementation by standard methods. Data was analyzed by using dependent and independent t- student tests at p ≤ 0.05 levels.

  Results: The results showed that the taurine supplementation decreased systolic and diastolic blood pressure level, heart rate and the cardiac troponin I and CPK-MB concentration in plasma, as compared with placebo group. In addition, taurine supplementation increased the maximal activity time on treadmill and Vo2 peak in comparison with placebo group.

  Conclusion : These data proved the anti-hypertensive effect and antioxidant role of taurine in patients with CHF. Therefore, our study supports this idea that taurine supplementation can be recommended to patients who suffer from cardiac events as a preventive nutritional strategy.