Best taurine supplement 2023

More than just an energy drink ingredient.

The best taurine supplements around can give your training the additional boost it needs to help you hit PBs in the gym.

In fact, you may have seen taurine listed as an ingredient in your favourite energy drink before. However, what you may not know is how important this naturally occurring amino acid is to your body, or what some of its potential benefits are.

For example, taurine has been linked to improving heart health and having antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. That said, taurine is perhaps best known for its potential to boost your energy levels and exercise performance, one of the reasons why tuna, which contains taurine, is considered good for muscle growth.

As a result, taurine is sometimes used as an alternative to some of the best pre-workouts on the market, especially when consumed in energy drinks such as Red Bull and Monster.

So, if you're looking to supplement your taurine intake, then we're here to help kick off your search. We've put together a list of top picks based on their specific ingredients, customer reviews, and any other features that we think make these particular supplements worth considering.

From standout taurine capsules, like these Nutricost tablets, to powdered alternatives, like Primaforce's Unflavoured Taurine, our list has you covered. So, without further delay, let's get into it...

Best taurine supplement capsules

Nutricost has a range of amazing supplements to choose from. However, its the brand's taurine capsules we're interested in here.

Per container, you're getting 400 tablets containing 1,000mg of taurine each. That's a pretty big supply if you're looking to seriously boost your daily taurine intake.

Read More: Best beef liver supplements

Nutricost also states its capsules are gluten-free, third-party tested, and contain no GMO ingredients to suit a wider variety of dietary requirements.

So, if you're looking for something quick and easy to up your taurine levels, then Nutricost's Taurine Capsules could be your answer.

Best powdered taurine supplement

Taurine supplements don't just come as tablets. No, you can also find powdered variations for a little more versatility with what you can consume it with.

In the case of Primaforce's Taurine powder, you're getting an unflavoured blend containing 1,400mg of taurine that should be suitable to mix with almost any drink of choice.

Read More: Best bitter orange supplements

You could mix it, for example, into your pre-workout shake alongside your best EAA supplement so you're ready to exercise, or you could take it with water after training to stay hydrated. The possibilities are almost endless.

With this 250g container, you're also getting 178 servings in total which we feel is more than enough to test taurine out to see if it's right for you and your diet.

Best budget taurine supplement

We've featured NOW Supplements before in our list of the best vitamin B12 supplements as it produces a ton of what look to be great but relatively inexpensive dietary capsules.

NOW Supplements Taurine Capsules, for instance, appear to be no different, offering 500mg of taurine per one non-GMO tablet.

Read More: Best BCAA supplements

The capsules are also vegetarian and vegan, with the only other ingredients aside from taurine being rice flour and hypromellose to hold the taurine together in one place.

Therefore, if you're struggling to find something to adhere to your plant-based diet, this option from NOW Supplements might be your answer.

Best extra strong taurine supplement

Horbäach is known for its extra strong dietary capsules which include these taurine tablets.

Per serving, you get an impressive 1,500mg of taurine to seriously boost your intake. However, Horbäach recommends three capsules per serving. So, if you'd rather slightly less taurine, then there's always the option to consume only one or two a day as well.

Read More: Best nitric oxide supplements

Horbäach also boasts its capsules are designed to quickly release the taurine so your body can begin to absorb and use the nutrients instantly in preparation for your workout.

It's worth mentioning as well that the tablets are free from gluten, wheat, soy, milk, lactose, artificial flavours, and preservatives. They also contain no GMO ingredients, meaning Horbäach's Taurine Capsules tick a lot of boxes in our books.

Best vegan taurine supplement

Rounding off our list are these vegan tablets by Solgar which deliver 500mg of taurine per just one relatively small vegetable capsule.

Solgar boasts it uses free-form taurine as the main ingredient to, in theory, promote optimal absorption and assimilation.

Read More: Best supplements for sleep

These tablets aren't just suitable for vegans though. Solgar's Taurine Capsules also adhere to kosher and halal diets, and contain no gluten, wheat, or dairy in case of any intolerances.

Ultimately, the wide variety of diets these taurine capsules suit makes them well worth considering in our opinion.

Getting your head around what supplements to take can be quite tricky at times. Don't worry though because we've answered some of the most frequently asked questions about taurine to help get you started.

Taurine is a natural sulphur-containing amino acid found predominately in excitatory tissues, such as your heart, brain, retina, and skeletal muscles.

Its primary functions include regulating your hydration and electrolyte balance, forming bile salts, regulating minerals like calcium within your cells, supporting your central nervous system, and managing immune system health.

With this in mind, why take it as a supplement? Well, taurine has been linked to improving your heart health. One review by Yan-Jun Xu et al. found a wealth of experimental information to suggest that taurine could be beneficial against cardiovascular disease.

Moreover, studies have found a connection between taurine and fighting diabetes due to its possible antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

A study by Inam-U-Llah et al., in particular, supports this theory. Taurine treatment was found to perform well against oxidative stress in the brain, increased the secretion of desired hormones, and protected against neuropathy, retinopathy, and nephropathy in diabetes compared to the control group.

However, what people often associate taurine with is its potential to boost your energy levels and exercise performance.

A review of 19 studies by Kurtz et al. found taurine was linked to an increase in oxygen uptake, an increase in time to fatigue and recover, reduced muscle damage, and improved overall power during exercise, thus demonstrating its possible influence on athletic performance.

Read More: Best cod liver oil capsules

There's not really an agreed-upon amount of taurine you should consume, although it's thought most people consume somewhere around 400mg as part of their everyday diet.

Taurine is said to be relatively safe though, with the European Food Safety Authority suggesting you should be safe to take up to 6g per day if you desire.

Therefore, choosing how much taurine to add to your diet really comes down to personal preference. Be warned though that taurine is found naturally in some of the best foods for protein like meat, fish, and dairy products, so you'll likely be consuming some taurine already as part of your diet if you're looking to supplement as well.

Read More: Best garlic supplements

There is no specific requirement on whether you can or can't take taurine on an empty stomach.

However, you may find it's beneficial to take taurine supplements on an empty stomach given it's an amino acid and it may be the case that amino acids are absorbed best when there's less competition in the stomach.

That said, if you experience some discomfort taking taurine on an empty stomach, then it may be advisable to take taurine with a meal to reduce the likelihood of these side effects.

On the whole, though, there is no evidence to suggest that taking taurine on an empty stomach is more effective than taking it with food. It is important to follow the recommended dosage and consult with a healthcare professional before starting any supplement regimen.