Taurine and Pregnancy

Some pregnant women may assume that because taurine is an amino acid naturally produced by the human body, taurine supplements are also safe to take. However, no specific studies have been done on taurine and pregnancy. The supplements could have a higher-than-normal concentration of taurine or a different form of taurine than that found in food. Be sure to talk to your healthcare provider about the benefits and risks of taking taurine during pregnancy.

 

An Overview of Taurine and Pregnancy

As with most dietary supplements, it is not clear whether taurine supplements are safe for use during pregnancy. Taurine is an amino acid found in protein-rich foods and also used in energy drinks and dietary supplements. It is produced naturally by the human body. Make sure to check with your healthcare provider before taking any supplement that contains taurine during pregnancy. For most pregnant women, there is no medical reason to take taurine.
 

Is Taurine Safe for Pregnant Women?

There are no reliable studies indicating that taurine is safe (or unsafe), as taurine supplementation has not been adequately studied in any pregnant women. It might seem logical that the supplements would be perfectly safe for pregnant women, as taurine is just an amino acid that is found in many foods (and produced naturally by the human body). However, it cannot be assumed that taurine supplementation is as safe as a normal dietary intake of taurine. Perhaps, the higher levels due to supplementation could cause problems, or the taurine in supplements may be slightly different from the taurine found in foods.
 
It is also possible that your taurine supplements may contain contaminants or other ingredients that are not safe for use in pregnancy. Until more information is available, it is probably wise to wait until after pregnancy to try taurine supplements, especially because there is no proven benefit for taking taurine during pregnancy.
 
(Taurine and Pregnancy Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;