Here is a study showing L-Taurine to be a systemic antifibrotic agent, a definite boon for hair growth. Fibrosis is an age related body wide process by which collagen constricts and ridgidifies due to cross linking. L-Taurine apparently inhibits this cross linking and is unique in its ability to inhibit fibrosis. This confirms the mechanisms of earlier findings earlier findings from L’Oreal that oral administration of L-Taurine in combo with Grape Seed/red wine (resveratrol) had a significant impact on hair growth.
1: J Diabetes Complications. 2005 Sep-Oct; 19(5):305-11.
Taurine prevents fructose-diet induced collagen abnormalities in rat skin.
Nandhini TA, Thirunavukkarasu V, Ravichandran MK, Anuradha CV.
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar 608002, India.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study is to investigate the effect of taurine administration on the content and characteristics of skin collagen in high-fructose-fed rats. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Adult male Wistar rats were divided into four groups of six each: a control group (CON) and a taurine-supplemented control group (CON+TAU), a high fructose diet-fed group (FRU), and a taurine supplemented fructose diet-fed group (FRU+TAU). After 30 days, collagen was isolated from the skin, and its physicochemical properties were studied. RESULTS: Fructose administration caused an accumulation of collagen and extensive cross-linking. This was evidenced by increases in glycation, fluorescence, and peroxidation in collagen samples. The physicochemical properties of collagen, like shrinkage temperature, aldehyde content, solubility pattern, and susceptibility to denaturing agents, were altered in the fructose-fed rats. The sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic (SDS-PAGE) pattern of collagen from fructose-fed rats showed and elevated beta component of Type I collagen. Simultaneous administration of taurine alleviated these changes.
CONCLUSION: The positive influence of taurine on both collagen content and its properties suggests a potential mechanism for the ability of taurine to delay diabetic complications.
PMID: 16112507 [PubMed - in process]
