Supplementation with 2 g/day taurine for 30 days after liver transplantation was associated with improved graft function markers (AST, total bilirubin, INR) and better clinical recovery outcomes, suggesting taurine may be a beneficial adjunct therapy to support early post-transplant recovery.
Key Findings
Results
Taurine supplementation resulted in significantly greater reductions in aspartate aminotransferase (AST) compared to placebo after liver transplantation.
Patients received oral taurine or placebo at 2 g/day from transplant day to day 30
The trial was randomized and double-blind
169 patients were analyzed after excluding 56 (29 refusals, 27 early deaths who died within 72 hours)
Patients were evenly randomized between taurine and placebo groups
The reduction in AST was significantly greater in the taurine group (p < 0.05)
Results
Taurine supplementation was associated with significantly greater reductions in total bilirubin compared to placebo.
Total bilirubin was a primary outcome measure
The taurine group had significantly greater reductions in total bilirubin
All patients showed expected post-operative declines in bilirubin regardless of treatment group
The improvement was observed over the 30-day supplementation period
Results
Taurine supplementation was associated with significantly greater reductions in international normalized ratio (INR) compared to placebo.
INR was measured as a primary outcome reflecting graft function
The taurine group had significantly greater reductions in INR
INR reduction reflects improvement in hepatic synthetic function
Supplementation was administered at 2 g/day for 30 days
Results
Taurine supplementation was associated with significantly lower mortality compared to placebo.
Mortality was a secondary outcome of the trial
The difference in mortality between taurine and placebo groups was statistically significant (p < 0.05)
27 patients were excluded from analysis due to early deaths within 72 hours prior to randomization outcomes
Enrollment period was September 2020 to June 2021
Results
Taurine supplementation was associated with shorter intensive transplantation unit (ITU) stay compared to placebo.
ITU stay was a secondary outcome
Mean difference in ITU stay was -4.09 days in favor of the taurine group
This reduction was statistically significant (p < 0.05)
Results
Taurine supplementation was associated with shorter total hospital stay compared to placebo.
Hospital stay duration was a secondary outcome
Mean difference in hospital stay was -3.49 days in favor of the taurine group
This reduction was statistically significant (p < 0.05)
Results
Taurine supplementation was associated with reduced mechanical ventilation duration compared to placebo.
Ventilation duration was a secondary outcome
Mean difference in mechanical ventilation duration was -20.06 hours in favor of the taurine group
This reduction was statistically significant (p < 0.05)
Results
All patients demonstrated expected post-operative declines in ALT, AST, and bilirubin regardless of treatment assignment.
Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), AST, and bilirubin all declined post-operatively in both groups
This pattern was described as 'expected post-operative declines'
The taurine group showed significantly greater reductions in AST and bilirubin above the baseline post-operative decline
Methods
Of 225 enrolled patients, 56 were excluded, leaving 169 patients evenly randomized for analysis.
Exclusions consisted of 29 refusals and 27 early deaths (within 72 hours)
Exclusion criteria included death within 72 hours or multi-organ transplant
Adults undergoing liver transplantation were enrolled between September 2020 and June 2021
Patients were evenly randomized between taurine and placebo groups