Posted by Larry Hoover on January 28, 2007, at 12:05:01
In reply to Re: Larry Hoover? » Larry Hoover, posted by kelv on January 28, 2007, at 11:24:30
> Taurine-Alcohol
>
> Hi,
>
> I have an alcohol problem, in that i maintaince drink, but never really get drunk.
>
> I'm also scripted Xanax but that just helps smaller amounts of Vodka go longer.
>
> Whats the Taurine thing with alcohol?
>
> I'm scripted 3mgs Xanax daily, but take as needed. When i MUST sleep, i'll take 3-4mgs Xanax with a few shots Vodka to sleep.
>
> How can Taurine help?
>
> Thank youIt would be easier for me to demonstrate the physiological effects of Campral/acamprosate, given the funding that flows towards patented medications. Natural substances just don't get the same respect/research funding.
Ethanol and taurine do quite a dance, in a drinker's brain. Drinking causes acute release of taurine into neuronal synapses, causing stimulation of the GABA(A) receptor (same as benzos). After drinking has ended, there is a rebound in glutaminergic activity, which increases the demand for taurine further (taurine antagonizes glutamate).
Ethanol also activates glycine-dependent receptors in the reward pathway. Taurine is a natural ligand for those same receptors. It's possible, therefore, that alcohol and taurine synergistically reward ethanol consumption, or that chronic drinking maintains the reward in taurine deficiency. In any case, drinking clearly causes depletion of neuronal taurine.
Taurine also modulates beta-endorphin release, controls brain electrolytes, and has a substantial antioxidant effect throughout the brain.
Acamprosate doesn't do anything taurine doesn't do, as far as I can tell. The only detail that I'm unclear on is dose. I'm thinking one gram, twice a day, is probably in the ballpark, though.
Lar
For the geeks:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=16820013
Eur J Neurosci. 2006 Jun;23(12):3225-9.
Taurine elevates dopamine levels in the rat nucleus accumbens; antagonism by strychnine.
Ericson M, Molander A, Stomberg R, Soderpalm B.
Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Section of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, The Sahlgrenska Academy at Goteborg University, Bla Straket 15, 413 45, Goteborg, Sweden. mia.ericson@neuro.gu.seThe mesolimbic dopamine (DA) system, projecting from the ventral tegmental area (VTA) to the nucleus accumbens (nAcc), is involved in reward-related behaviours and addictive processes, such as alcoholism and drug addiction. It was recently suggested that strychnine-sensitive glycine receptors (GlyR) in the nAcc regulate both basal and ethanol-induced mesolimbic DA activity via a neuronal loop involving endogenous activation of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR) in the VTA. However, as the nAcc appears to contain few glycine-immunoreactive cell bodies or fibres, the question as to what may be the endogenous ligand for GlyRs in this brain region remains open. Here we have investigated whether the amino acid taurine could serve this purpose using in vivo microdialysis in awake, freely moving male Wistar rats. Local perfusion of taurine (1, 10 or 100 mm in the perfusate) increased DA levels in the nAcc. The taurine (10 mm)-induced DA increase was, similarly to that previously observed after ethanol, completely blocked by (i) perfusion of the competitive GlyR antagonist strychnine in the nAcc, (ii) perfusion of the nAChR antagonist mecamylamine (100 microm) in the VTA, and (iii) systemic administration of the acetylcholine-depleting drug vesamicol (0.4 mg/kg, i.p). The present results suggest that taurine may be an endogenous ligand for GlyRs in the nAcc and that the taurine-induced elevation of DA levels in this area, similarly to that observed after local ethanol, is mediated via a neuronal loop involving endogenous activation of nAChRs in the VTA.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=16227640
Pharmacol Rep. 2005 Sep-Oct;57(5):578-87.
Taurine prevents ethanol-induced alterations in lipids and ATPases in rat tissues.
Pushpakiran G, Mahalakshmi K, Viswanathan P, Anuradha CV.
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar - 608 002, Tamil Nadu, India.The study investigates the cytoprotective effect of taurine on ethanol-induced alterations in lipids and enzymes involved in ion-transport in rat tissues. Male albino rats were divided into 4 groups (n = 8) and maintained for 28 days as follows: control group, ethanol (6 g/kg/day) group, ethanol plus taurine (10 g/kg diet/day) group and control plus taurine group. Ethanol administration caused significant increases in the lipids in plasma and tissues, such as liver, kidney and brain, together with reductions in the activities of ATPases in tissues as compared to control animals. Histological studies revealed lipid accumulation and inflammatory cell infiltrates in the liver and kidney while edematous changes were observed in the brain. Simultaneous administration of taurine along with alcohol attenuated the rise in lipid levels and normalized ATPase activities. Histological changes were alleviated on treatment with taurine. The study suggests a bioprotective effect of taurine in ethanol intoxication.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=16084077
J Nutr Biochem. 2006 Jan;17(1):45-50. Epub 2005 May 31.
Effects of consecutive high-dose alcohol administration on the utilization of sulfur-containing amino acids by rats.
Yang HT, Chen YH, Chiu WC, Huang SY.
School of Pharmaceutical Science, Taipei Medical University, Taiwan.In this study, we attempted to evaluate changes in sulfur-containing amino acid (SCAA) metabolism after short-term high-dose alcohol ingestion. At the beginning of the study, six animals were sacrificed as the baseline group and then other animals in the experiment were consecutively gavaged with alcohol (30%, 3 g/kg) for 7 days. Animals (n=6 each) were subsequently sacrificed at the time points of Days 1 (Group E1), 3 (Group E3) and 7 (Group E7). Blood samples and selected tissues were collected at each time interval. SCAA, pyridoxal phosphate (PLP) and glutathione (GSH) levels were analyzed. Results showed that taurine levels of tissues (brain, liver, heart and kidneys) all declined after the ethanol intervention and continued to decrease in selected tissues except the brain during the experiment. Furthermore, the trends of plasma taurine and PLP contents were highly correlated (r=.98, P=.045). A similar utilization pattern of plasma taurine and PLP indicated that transsulfuration preferred taurine production to GSH synthesis. The trend of plasma taurine levels being positively correlated with PLP levels reveals that dramatic transsulfuration occurred to meet the urgent demand for taurine by brain cells. In conclusion, we reported that continual alcohol ingestion alters SCAA utilization, especially by depletion of taurine and hypotaurine and by elevation of S-adenosyl homocysteine in the selected organs.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=15309576
Amino Acids. 2004 Aug;27(1):91-6. Epub 2004 Apr 26.
Taurine restores ethanol-induced depletion of antioxidants and attenuates oxidative stress in rat tissues.
Pushpakiran G, Mahalakshmi K, Anuradha CV.
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar, Tamil Nadu, India.Ethanol by its property of generating free radicals during the course of its metabolism causes damage to cell structure and function. The study investigates the protective effects of the antioxidant aminoacid taurine on ethanol-induced lipid peroxidation and antioxidant status. Male Wistar rats of body weight 170-190 g were divided into 4 groups and maintained for 28 days as follows: a control group and taurine-supplemented control group, taurine supplemented and unsupplemented ethanol-fed group. Ethanol was administered to rats at a dosage of 3 g/kg body weight twice daily and taurine was provided in the diet (10 g/kg diet). Lipid peroxidation products and antioxidant potential were quantitated in plasma and in following tissues liver, brain, kidney and heart. Increased levels of thiobarbituric acid substances (TBARS) and lipid hydroperoxides (LHP) in plasma and tissues, decreased activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were observed in hemolysate and tissues of ethanol-fed rats. The contents of reduced glutathione (GSH), alpha-tocopherol and ascorbic acid in plasma and tissues were significantly reduced in these animals as compared to control animals. Simultaneous administration of taurine along with ethanol attenuated the lipid peroxidation process and restored the levels of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants. We propose that taurine may have a bioprotective effect on ethanol-induced oxidative stress.
poster:Larry Hoover
thread:727407
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20070125/msgs/727446.html