Taurine and Hair: Does It Cause Hair Loss? What the Research Shows

We found no study showing taurine causes hair loss. The hair research on taurine is in the other direction: in the lab, taurine promoted the survival of human hair follicles and protected them from a growth-inhibiting signal, and a supplement containing taurine improved hair-loss ratings alongside drug treatment.

Here's what each study found and what it can't tell you.

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Key Takeaways

• Taurine is produced from methionine and cysteine metabolism. It's abundant in the brain, retina and heart, and found in meat and seafood.
• In human hair follicles grown in vitro, taurine promoted hair survival and protected follicles from the harm caused by TGF-beta1, a growth inhibitor.
• In an 83-person trial, a supplement with taurine, cysteine, methionine, collagen, iron and selenium, taken with drug treatment, improved hair-loss ratings more than drug treatment alone.
• We found no study linking taurine to hair loss.

What Is Taurine?

Taurine is an amino acid, a beta-amino acid made from the metabolism of methionine and cysteine. It's also a major ingredient in energy drinks.

Does Taurine Cause Hair Loss Or Help Hair?

We found no evidence that it causes hair loss. Whether it helps hair in people isn't established; the evidence is a lab study and a multi-ingredient supplement trial.

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Using Taurine

• Don't expect hair benefits from taurine alone.
• Ask your doctor before taking taurine supplements, especially if you're pregnant, breastfeeding, have a condition or take medication.
• See a dermatologist for hair loss.

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What The Research Shows

Hair Follicles In The Lab

Researchers grew human hair follicles in vitro and found taurine was taken up by the connective tissue sheath, proximal outer root sheath and hair bulb. It promoted hair survival in vitro and protected follicles from the harmful effects of TGF-beta1, an inhibitor of hair growth (Collin et al., 2006).

A Multi-Ingredient Trial

In a 12-week, randomized, assessor-blinded trial, 83 people with androgenetic alopecia or chronic telogen effluvium received drug treatment alone or with a daily tablet containing hydrolyzed fish collagen, taurine, cysteine, methionine, iron and selenium. At week 12 the global assessment score was higher with the supplement (1.67 vs 0.66). The tablet had many ingredients, so it can't show what taurine did (Milani et al., 2023).

Taurine And Energy Drinks

Taurine is found abundantly in brain, retina, heart and reproductive organ cells, and in meat and seafood. It is also a major ingredient in energy drinks, which are a major source of taurine supplementation. Little is known about its neuroendocrine effects (Caine & Geracioti, 2016).

Methionine is the other sulfur-containing amino acid people ask about; see L-methionine and hair.

Cysteine is the related sulfur-containing amino acid; see L-cysteine and hair.

For the blend trials that include it, see amino acids for hair growth.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does taurine cause hair loss?

We found no study showing that it does.

Does taurine help hair growth?

In the lab, taurine promoted hair follicle survival. In people, a multi-ingredient supplement with taurine improved ratings alongside drug treatment, but taurine alone hasn't been tested.

Is taurine safe?

Little is known about some of its effects, such as neuroendocrine effects. Talk to your doctor before supplementing.

References

1. Collin C, Gautier B, Gaillard O, et al. Protective effects of taurine on human hair follicle grown in vitro. Int J Cosmet Sci. 2006. PubMed
2. Milani M, Colombo F, GFM‐O‐Trial Investigators Group. Efficacy and tolerability of an oral supplement containing amino acids, iron, selenium, and marine hydrolyzed collagen in subjects with hair loss (androgenetic alopecia, AGA or FAGA or telogen effluvium). A prospective, randomized, 3-month, controlled, assessor-blinded study. Skin Res Technol. 2023. PubMed
3. Caine JJ, Geracioti TD. Taurine, energy drinks, and neuroendocrine effects. Cleve Clin J Med. 2016. PubMed