Does Taurine Raise or Lower Blood Pressure?

November 18, 2025 •

4 min read

According to a 2018 meta-analysis, regular oral taurine supplementation can reduce both systolic and diastolic blood pressure in humans, suggesting a beneficial effect on cardiovascular health. The powerful impact of taurine on blood pressure has garnered significant scientific attention, raising important questions about its mechanisms and safe usage for those managing hypertension.

Quick Summary

Taurine supplementation typically lowers blood pressure and improves vascular function, particularly in individuals with prehypertension or diabetes. This effect is attributed to mechanisms like vasodilation, improved antioxidant activity, and inhibition of the renin-angiotensin system. While generally safe, caution is advised for people on hypertension medication or with certain health conditions.

Key Points

Lowers Blood Pressure: Scientific studies have shown that taurine supplementation can reduce both systolic and diastolic blood pressure, particularly in individuals with prehypertension.
Promotes Vasodilation: One of the primary mechanisms is its ability to increase nitric oxide availability, which relaxes and widens blood vessels, improving blood flow.
Calms the Nervous System: Taurine can modulate the nervous system, suppressing sympathetic overactivity and reducing stress hormones that constrict blood vessels.
Antioxidant Effects: As an antioxidant, taurine helps protect the cardiovascular system from damage caused by oxidative stress.
Different from Energy Drinks: The blood-pressure-lowering effect is from taurine itself, and does not apply to energy drinks where high caffeine and sugar content can have opposite effects.
Safe for Most: Taurine is generally well-tolerated, but those on hypertension medication should seek medical advice due to potential additive effects.

Understanding the Effects of Taurine on Blood Pressure

Taurine is a conditionally essential amino sulfonic acid, meaning the body can synthesize it, but needs may increase during times of stress or illness. It is found abundantly in animal tissues like the heart, brain, and muscles, and can be obtained from foods such as fish, meat, and dairy. While a normal diet provides a baseline amount, supplemental doses have been studied for their potential therapeutic effects on cardiovascular health, most notably for their ability to lower blood pressure.

The Antihypertensive Mechanism: How Taurine Works

Research has identified several complex pathways through which taurine exerts its blood-pressure-lowering effects. These mechanisms work together to improve overall cardiovascular function:

Enhances Vasodilation: Taurine helps increase the availability of nitric oxide, a crucial signaling molecule that relaxes and widens blood vessels. This effect, known as vasodilation, improves blood flow and reduces the overall pressure on artery walls.
Improves Vascular Function: In prehypertensive individuals, taurine has been shown to improve both endothelium-dependent and endothelium-independent vasodilation. This means it helps the inner lining of blood vessels and the muscle layer of the arteries function more efficiently.
Inhibits the Renin-Angiotensin System: Taurine can help suppress the activity of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, a hormonal cascade that plays a major role in regulating blood pressure. By dampening this system, taurine contributes to lower overall pressure.
Calms the Nervous System: A key function of taurine is its ability to calm the nervous system. In some animal studies, it has been shown to suppress the renal sympathetic nervous system, reducing the release of stress hormones like norepinephrine and epinephrine, which cause vasoconstriction and increase heart rate.
Acts as an Antioxidant: By reducing oxidative stress and inflammation, taurine protects blood vessels from damage. This improved vascular health is a fundamental factor in maintaining healthy blood pressure levels.

Clinical Evidence for Taurine's Impact

Multiple studies have investigated the effects of taurine supplementation on blood pressure, yielding encouraging results:

Studies on Prehypertensive Individuals: A double-blind, placebo-controlled study published in the journal Hypertension in 2016 involved participants with prehypertension. Those who took 1.6 grams of taurine daily for 12 weeks experienced a significant reduction in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure compared to the placebo group.
Meta-Analysis Findings: A 2018 meta-analysis reviewing several peer-reviewed studies confirmed that oral taurine ingestion can reduce blood pressure to a clinically relevant degree. This analysis showed a mean reduction in both systolic and diastolic pressure across various dosage ranges and study durations.
Impact on Diabetic Patients: Recent research, such as a study published in 2025 in ScienceDirect, indicated that taurine supplementation led to a significant reduction in systolic blood pressure and improved vascular function in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Considerations for Taurine Supplementation

While the evidence points toward taurine having a blood-pressure-lowering effect, especially in those with elevated pressure, some important distinctions should be noted:

Acute vs. Chronic Effects: An animal study indicated that acute injection of taurine could lower blood pressure, but chronic supplementation to female rats actually caused an increase. The researchers noted that the effect of supplementation in human hypertensive individuals is still under study.
Dosage: Clinical studies have shown positive effects with dosages ranging from 1 to 6 grams per day. Doses used in successful blood pressure studies typically fall within the 1.5 to 3 grams range.
Safety: Taurine is generally considered safe, even at fairly high doses. However, individuals on blood pressure medication should consult a doctor before adding a supplement, as the combined effect could lower blood pressure too much.

Comparison of Taurine vs. Caffeine's Effect on Blood Pressure

Taurine is often associated with energy drinks, which commonly contain caffeine. It is crucial to distinguish between the effects of taurine and caffeine on blood pressure, as they can have opposing impacts.


Feature	Taurine	Caffeine (in high doses or energy drinks)
Effect on Blood Pressure	Generally lowers blood pressure by promoting vasodilation and calming the nervous system.	Can temporarily increase blood pressure by causing vasoconstriction and stimulating the nervous system.
Mechanism of Action	Multifaceted, including antioxidant effects, modulation of calcium, and inhibition of the renin-angiotensin system.	Primarily a central nervous system stimulant that affects cardiovascular function.
Impact on Heart Rate	Can cause a significant reduction in heart rate, especially in patients with heart failure.	Often causes an increase in heart rate.
Side Effects (when consumed together in energy drinks)	Often masked or counteracted by the stimulant effects of caffeine and other ingredients.	Jitteriness, restlessness, and sleep problems are common.

Conclusion: The Overall Impact

Overall, the scientific consensus is that taurine supplementation tends to lower blood pressure and improve cardiovascular function, particularly in individuals with prehypertension or existing heart conditions. Research has outlined several mechanisms, including vasodilation, nervous system modulation, and antioxidant effects, that contribute to these beneficial outcomes. It is important to note that the positive effects observed in many studies are from specific taurine doses, not from the consumption of energy drinks, where its effects may be overshadowed by other stimulating ingredients like caffeine. For those considering taurine to manage blood pressure, consulting a healthcare professional is recommended to ensure appropriate dosage and to manage any potential interactions with existing medications.

For more comprehensive information on cardiovascular health, the American Heart Association offers extensive resources and guidelines at Heart.org.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, studies have shown that daily taurine supplementation, often at doses between 1.5 to 3 grams, can lead to a significant reduction in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure, particularly in individuals with prehypertension.

Taurine lowers blood pressure through several mechanisms: it promotes vasodilation by increasing nitric oxide, calms the nervous system to reduce stress hormone activity, and acts as an antioxidant to protect blood vessels.

No, the high levels of caffeine, sugar, and other ingredients in energy drinks can counteract or overshadow taurine's potential benefits. The blood-pressure-lowering effects of taurine are observed from controlled supplementation, not energy drink consumption.

Clinical studies often use dosages between 1.5 to 6 grams per day, with many showing a positive effect on blood pressure within the 1.5 to 3 grams range. It is generally considered safe, but consultation with a healthcare provider is recommended.

For individuals with healthy blood pressure, taurine's effect is less pronounced. However, if taking hypertension medication, combining it with a taurine supplement could cause an excessive drop in blood pressure. Medical supervision is advised.

No serious adverse effects have been consistently reported in studies using therapeutic doses of taurine. Most people tolerate it well, but potential side effects like dizziness or gastrointestinal upset can occur.

The best dietary sources of taurine include animal and fish proteins, particularly seafood such as mussels, clams, and scallops. Meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products also contain taurine.

Yes, beyond lowering blood pressure, taurine has been shown to improve overall heart function, reduce inflammation, and enhance the ability to exercise in individuals with heart failure.