Why Taurine in Energy Drinks?

Question

Why do they use Taurine in energy drinks? Any suggestions are appreciated. Thanks.

Answer 1

I'm afraid the real answer is because it sounds nifty, it's a recent "New!!" addition to the ingredient list so there's the marketing impression that it adds something good, and people who are gullible enough to overpay for 'energy' drinks will be swayed by the sound of it to buy the one that has taurine.  But, there has been a finding that, in mice, at higher doses, and doing more work than most people who drink these drinks... it reduces muscle fatigue caused by a strenuous workout.  That would be the expressed reason for it.

Taurine is an aminosulfonic acid.  If you don't know the chemistry, that's sort of like an amino acid, only different.  Your body makes what you need, just like most of the amino acids, so it's not a vitamin.  The inclusion in energy drinks pretty much does nothing, but in large doses it can sometimes reduce high blood pressure.