Taurine content in Chinese food and daily intake of Chinese men.
Level 4 - case-series / case-control
Cross-sectional food composition and dietary survey analysis; graded by design analogy.
PubMed 9635067 · doi:10.1007/978-1-4899-0117-0_60
What was done
Researchers measured taurine concentrations across Chinese food items, including seafood from four coastal regions, as well as meat, plant foods, and eggs from food markets. They also estimated the daily taurine intake for a standard Chinese man (18–45 years old, 60 kg body weight, light physical activity) using dietary survey data from the 1990 China Total Diet Study across 12 provinces in four regions, analyzing cooked composite meat and seafood samples.
What was found
Crustaceans and molluscs contained the highest taurine levels (300 to 800 mg per 100 g edible portion). Beef, pork, and lamb contained 30 to 160 mg per 100 g, while fish levels were variable. No taurine was detected in plant foods or hen eggs. Based on dietary intake data and composite food measurements, estimated daily taurine intake for standard adult men in the four regions ranged from 34 to 80 mg per day.
Why it matters
This study provides foundational baseline nutritional data on dietary taurine exposure in a Chinese population and establishes the primary dietary sources of the amino acid in regional food supplies.
Limits
The abstract does not state the exact sample size of survey respondents. Intake estimates are modeled for a hypothetical standard adult male profile rather than measuring individual-level biomarkers, actual excretion, or intake across women, children, and elderly populations.
Cited by
- contradicts One pound of beef contains approximately 1 to 2 grams of taurine depending on the cut.