Taurine enhances voluntary alcohol intake and promotes anxiolytic-like behaviors in rats

Taurine Neuroprotection and Neurogenesis Effect in Chronic Ethanol-Induced Rats

Taurine (2-aminoethanesulfonic acid) is a non-protein β-amino acid essential for cellular homeostasis, with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and cytoprotective properties that are crucial for life maintenance. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of taurine administration on hippocampal neurogenesis, neuronal preservation, or reverse damage in rats exposed to forced ethanol consumption in an animal model. Wistar rats were treated with ethanol (EtOH) for a 28-day period (5% in the 1st week, 10% in the 2nd week, and 20% in the 3rd and 4th weeks). Two taurine treatment protocols (300 mg/kg i.p.) were implemented: one during ethanol consumption to analyze neuroprotection, and another after ethanol consumption to assess the reversal of ethanol-induced damage. Overall, the results demonstrated that taurine treatment was effective in protecting against deficits induced by ethanol consumption in the dentate gyrus. The EtOH+TAU group showed a significant increase in cell proliferation (145.8%) and cell survival (54.0%) compared to the EtOH+Sal group. The results also indicated similar effects regarding the reversal of ethanol-induced damage 28 days after the cessation of ethanol consumption. The EtOH+TAU group exhibited a significant increase (41.3%) in the number of DCX-immunoreactive cells compared to the EtOH+Sal group. However, this amino acid did not induce neurogenesis in the tissues of healthy rats, implying that its activity may be contingent upon post-injury stimuli.

Potential of the Blue Calm® food supplement in the treatment of alcohol withdrawal-induced anxiety in adult zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is characterized by a set of behavioral, cognitive, nutritional, and physiological phenomena derived from the uncontrolled use of alcoholic beverages. There are cases in which AUD is associated with anxiety disorder, and when untreated, it requires careful pharmacotherapy. Blue Calm® (BC) is a food supplement indicated to aid restorative sleep, which has traces of medicinal plant extracts, as well as myo-inositol, magnesium bisglycinate, taurine, and L-tryptophan as its main chemical constituents. In this context, this study aimed to evaluate the potential of the BC in the treatment alcohol withdrawal-induced anxiety in adult zebrafish (aZF). Initially, BC was submitted to antioxidant activity against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical. Subsequently, the aZF (n = 6/group) were treated with BC (0.1 or 1 or 10 mg/mL; 20 μL; p.o.), and the sedative effect and acute toxicity (96 h) were evaluated. Then, the anxiolytic-like effect and the possible GABAergic mechanism were analyzed through the Light & Dark Test. Finally, BC action was evaluated for treating alcohol withdrawal-induced anxiety in aZF. Molecular docking was performed to evaluate the interaction of the major chemical constituents of BC with the GABAA receptor. BC showed antioxidant potential, a sedative effect, was not toxic, and all doses of BC had an anxiolytic-like effect and showed potential for the treatment of alcohol withdrawal-induced anxiety in aZF. In addition to the anxiolytic action, the main chemical constituents of BC were confirmed in the molecular docking, thus suggesting that BC is an anxiolytic that modulates the GABAergic system and has pharmacological potential for the treatment of alcohol withdrawal-induced anxiety.

Neurobehavioral alterations induced by third-trimester gestation-equivalent ethanol exposure are inhibited by folate administration

Prenatal ethanol exposure (PEE) causes several neurobehavioral impairments in the fetus. Postnatal days (PDs) 4-9 in rodents are considered equivalent to the third trimester of gestation in humans. This period is characterized by high rates of synaptogenesis and myelination and the maturation of key structures and transmitter systems. Nutritional supplements, such as folate, have gained attention as putative treatments to mitigate detrimental effects of PEE. Folate is crucial for DNA synthesis and amino acid metabolism and heightens antioxidant defenses. The present study examined neurobehavioral effects of the concurrent administration of folate (20 mg/kg/day) and ethanol (5 g/kg/day) during PDs 4-9 in male and female Wistar rats. During PDs 16-18, the rat pups were tested for anxiety-like and exploratory activity in the light-dark box (LDB), open field (OF), and concentric square field (CSF) tests. After weaning, they were tested for sucrose preference and ethanol intake. Neonatal ethanol exposure reduced body weight in infancy but did not enhance ethanol self-administration or significantly affect performance in the OF or LDB. Neonatal ethanol exposure also reduced sucrose intake in the preference test and increased shelter-seeking in the CSF, and folate significantly inhibited these effects. The present findings suggest that folate, a treatment that is devoid of serious side effects, can ameliorate some neurobehavioral effects of PEE.

Alcohol and energy drinks: individual contribution of common ingredients on ethanol-induced behaviour

Since energy drinks (EDs) were sold to the general public as soft drinks and recreational beverages, mixing EDs with ethanol has grown in popularity, particularly among younger people. Given the research that links these drinks with higher risk behaviors and increased ethanol intake, ethanol combined with EDs (AmEDs) is a particularly worrying combination. EDs generally commonly include a variety of ingredients. Sugar, caffeine, taurine, and B-group vitamins are almost always present. Studies on the combined effect of ethanol and sugar and caffeine on ethanol-induced behaviors are extensive. Not so much in regards to taurine and vitamins. This review briefly summarises available information from research on the isolated compounds on EtOH-induced behaviors first, and secondly, the combination of AmEDs on EtOH effects. The conclusion is that additional research is needed to fully comprehend the characteristics and consequences of AmEDs on EtOH-induced behaviors.

Energy drinks at adolescence: Awareness or unawareness?

Energy drinks (EDs) are beverages similar to soft drinks, characterized by high caffeine concentrations with additional ingredients like taurine and vitamins, marketed for boosting energy, reducing tiredness, increasing concentration, and for their ergogenic effect. The majority of consumers are children, adolescents, and young athletes. Although EDs companies claim about the ergogenic and remineralizing properties of their products, there is a serious lack of evidence at preclinical as well as clinical level to validate their benefits. The regular intake and long-term consequences of these caffeinated drinks are not well documented, especially the possible negative effects in adolescents whose brain is still developing. EDs combined with alcohol are also gaining popularity among adolescents and different publications indicate that this combined consumption might increase the risk to develop an alcohol use disorder, as well as produce serious adverse cardiovascular effects. There is an increasing need to disseminate knowledge on EDs damage on health, so that adolescents can be aware about the potential harmful outcomes of consuming these drinks.

Alcohol mixed with energy drinks: what about taurine?

RATIONALE

Since energy drinks (EDs) were marketed to the general public as recreational and soft drinks, mixing these with alcohol has become a popular practice, especially in the younger population. Alcohol mixed with EDs (AmEDs) is a particularly alarming combination, given the evidence that consistently associate these drinks with increased risk behaviours and greater alcohol consumption. Caffeine and taurine are commonly found in EDs. In contrast to caffeine, the studies on taurine psychoactive properties and how this amino acid influences ethanol intake alone or in combination with caffeine are not so numerous.

OBJECTIVES

We summarised relevant and available data on the studies focusing on taurine as a psychoactive agent and its influence on ethanol (EtOH)-induced behaviours. Given the increased risk that represents mixing alcohol with energy drinks, we put emphasis on the research exploring the impact of these combinations on motivated behaviour towards EtOH consumption.

RESULTS

The research on taurine properties on motivated behaviour towards EtOH consumption is limited, and mostly all done in combination with caffeine or other molecules. This makes it difficult to elucidate the effect of this amino acid when combined with alcohol.

CONCLUSIONS

Incomplete understanding of the properties and effects of AmEDs is unavoidable until more studies are performed on the influence of taurine on motivation to consume alcohol. Taurine should be further explored, particularly in regard to its potential beneficial applications, motivational properties and synergies with other psychoactive ingredients (i.e. caffeine).