What are the functions of taurine in milk powder?

Taurine is an extremely important nutrient and is very important to people's health. A lack of taurine will make the body feel very tired. Taurine is also an additive to many people's foods, especially in infant formula milk powder, where taurine is placed in a very important position. Let's take a look at the roles of taurine in milk powder. I hope everyone can understand.

Taurine, also known as taurocholine and oxcobite, was first isolated from ox bile in 1827. Its chemical name is 2-aminoethanesulfonic acid. It is a sulfur-containing non-protein amino acid and an amino acid essential for human growth and development.

There are two sources of taurine in the human body: one is self-synthesis, and the other is intake from diet. Adults generally do not need to specifically increase the amount of taurine in their diet. As long as the liver function is normal, they can synthesize it themselves. However, infants and young children, especially premature babies, do not have the ability to synthesize taurine themselves because their enzyme synthesis system is not yet mature. The taurine needed by the body must be supplied by food.

1. Promote the baby's brain nerve development

Taurine is abundant and widely distributed in the brain. It can significantly promote the growth and development of the nervous system and cell proliferation and differentiation, and plays an important role in the development of brain nerve cells. Taurine is closely related to the development of the central nervous system and retina of infants and fetuses.

Taurine can regulate the activities of the central nervous system. It is one of the most abundant free amino acids in the brain. It is the medium for the connection between brain nerve cells and participates in the regulation of brain nerve function. Therefore, taurine deficiency in infancy is likely to have adverse effects on children's brain function.

The taurine content in breast milk is relatively high, especially in colostrum. If the supplement is insufficient, the child's growth and development will be slow and their intellectual development will be delayed.

2. Ensure the stability of baby's retinal function

Taurine can improve nerve conduction and visual function, and plays a very important role in the development of the baby's nervous system and vision. If infants and young children lack taurine, they will develop retinal dysfunction, which will have an adverse effect on their vision, manifested as abnormal changes in the electroretinal graph.

3. Promote digestion and absorption of lipids

Lipids provide essential fatty acids for normal growth and development of the human body, thereby improving the body's immune function. Taurine combines with bile acids in the liver to form taurocholic acid, which is necessary for the absorption of lipids in the digestive tract. Taurocholic acid increases the solubility of lipids and cholesterol.