FAQ
What is Matador?
Matador is a premium Brand of Spey Medical; a UK based pharmaceutical company headquartered in London and operating in more than 18 countries globally.
What does Matador contains?
Matador contains “Taurine” (a sulphur containing amino acid found in the Heart, Retina, Brain, Kidneys, Blood Vessels, Intestines and Skeletal Muscles) as a principal ingredient whose supplementation is very beneficial in various etiologies.
What is the Source of Taurine in Matador?
Originally Taurine was found in the bile of a bull and can be found in cattle pee, but you’ll be glad to know that the Taurine that you take in Matador Soft gel capsule is made synthetically, so not from bullpee.
How Taurine is synthesized in the body?
Taurine is synthesized in the pancreas via the cysteine sulfonic acid pathway, known as biosynthesis of Taurine. It involves the oxidation of the -thiol group of the cysteine, followed by a decarboxylation reaction and a final spontaneous reaction to form Taurine. Taurine is also produced in the testicles of adult males.
The metabolic pathway for sulfur amino acids leading to Taurine biosynthesis in mammalian liver, kidney and brain, The “CSAD route”, represented as a bold black arrow, is the major route of Taurine biosynthesis in the CNS, liver and kidney. The “cysteate route”, represented as thin blue arrows, constitutes a minor route of Taurine biosynthesis in the CNS while the “cysteamine route”, represented as a blue hatched arrow, is not active in the CNS.
What are main biological roles of Taurine?
Matador (Taurine 1gm) performs various biological roles like:
- Calcium modulation
- Osmoregulation
- Membrane Stabilization
- Immunomodulation
- Bile salt conjugation
- Antioxidation
What Taurine does for our body?
Here are some of the key benefits of Taurine in relation to your health. Taurine is:
- A facilitator for the passage of sodium, potassium and possibly calcium and magnesium ions into and out of cells.
- Protection for the heart from irregular rhythms and damage during shock.
- Important in the visual pathways, the brain and nervous system, cardiac function and prevention of irregular heartbeats.
- A conjugator of bile acids – helps increase cholesterol elimination in the bile, helps with fat absorption and elimination of toxins.
- Important for its role in renal development and protection of the kidneys from free radical damage.
- An antioxidant.
- Involved in the balance and control of white blood cell production of free radicals to fight microbial infections.
- A calming or stabilizing effect on the brain and has been shown to be useful in treating seizure disorders.
- An enhancer of performance for athletes
Is Taurine an Essential Amino Acid?
Taurine is not an essential amino acid; it is a conditional amino acid which means that it is originally produced by the body in amounts sufficient to meet its physiological requirements. However, in disorders, such as cardiovascular disease (CVD), and in other physiologically stressful conditions, their biosynthesis may be inadequate and supplementation is beneficial.
Why we need to supplement Taurine?
Although it’s possible for our body to produce Taurine on its own but certain diets, particularly vegetarian or vegan diets, lack adequate amounts of Taurine. Disease states—including liver, kidney, or heart failure, diabetes, and cancer—can all cause a deficiency in Taurine. And aging bodies often cannot internally produce an optimal amount of Taurine, making supplementation vital. That’s why those interested in longevity should consider this vital nutrient.
A study released in November 2012 made the bold statement that Taurine is one of the most essential substances in the body. The authors wrote: Considering its broad distribution, its many cytoprotective attributes, and its functional significance in cell development, nutrition, and survival, Taurine is undoubtedly one of the most essential substances in the body.”
Because of Taurine’ s essential role in the body, supplementing with Taurine can provide numerous health benefits, including restoring insulin sensitivity, mitigating diabetic complications, reversing cardiovascular disease factors, preventing and treating fatty liver disease, alleviating seizures, reversing tinnitus, and more. Boosting Taurine levels can contribute to better cardiovascular, metabolic, and neurologic health.
Why Taurine is termed as “A Wonder Molecule”?
The Japanese have a life expectancy that is among the highest in the world. In fact, Okinawa, Japan’s famous “Island of Longevity,” likely has the world’s highest percentage of people over 100 years old.
Undoubtedly, there are many factors that play into the life spans of the longest-living populations, but evidence shows that they all have one thing in common: high dietary intake of an amino acid called Taurine. The connection between Taurine and a long life is so strong that researchers have dubbed Taurine, “The nutritional factor for the longevity of the Japanese.”
Taurine promotes cardiovascular health, insulin sensitivity, electrolyte balance, hearing function, and immune modulation. In research, Taurine protected against heart failure, reducing mortality by nearly 80%. So, considering its broad and extensive benefits, scientists have described Taurine as “A Wonder Molecule.”
In which Indications, supplementation of Matador (Taurine 1gm) is beneficial?
Matador (Taurine 1gm) supplementation is beneficial for:
- Diabetes and Associated Complications like Nephropathy, Neuropathy, Retinopathy, Cardiomyopathy, Atherosclerosis, Platelet Aggregation
- Cardiovascular complications Like Hypertension, Arrhythmias or Congestive Heart Failure, Hypercholestremia, Dyslipidemia
- Tinnitus
- Seizures & Epilepsy
What is the recommended dose of Matador (Taurine 1gm)?
- Diabetes and associated complications: 1 capsule 2-3 times in a day for 6-8 weeks
- Cardiovascular disease – 1 to 3 capsules 2 times in a day for minimum 6-8 weeks
- Tinnitus: 1 capsule 2-3 times in a day for minimum 6 weeks
- Seizures & Epilepsy: 1 capsule twice in a day for 6-8 weeks
- General health supplement for Adults: 13-16 mg per kilogram of body weight
- Infants and small children – 27-58 mg per kilogram of bodyweight
What is the potential mechanism of action involved in the beneficial action of Taurine?
Taurine in Tinnitus:
- Taurine is a partial agonist at inhibitory glycine and γ-amino butyric acid receptors
- Taurine helps restore and control normal calcium ion flow in auditory cells
- Taurine attenuates Tinnitus and improves auditory discrimination by increasing the inhibitory tone and decreasing the noise in the auditory pathway
- Depolarisation of a hair cell. Entry of potassium ions depolarises the hair cell, which opens voltagegated calcium channels. Incoming calcium ions further depolarise the cell, leading to the release of chemical transmitter to the afferent nerve fibre contacting the hair cell
Taurine Role in Seizures & Epilepsy:
Taurine works by increasing the levels of glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD), the enzyme responsible for the production of the neurotransmitter GABA, as well as by binding to so-called GABA receptors in brain cells, calming them and reducing their likelihood of participating in the random, uncoordinated electrical firing that produces an epileptic seizure.
Is Matador supplementation, safe for pregnant women?
Since Taurine is an essential amino acid for the fetus and newborn (they cannot make Taurine on their own), the mother’s supply of Taurine is essential for her developing baby. If a mother’s Taurine is low during or after her baby’s birth (newborns get Taurine from breast milk), Taurine from her diet or supplementation is important although there are no reliable studies indicating that Taurine is safe (or unsafe), as Taurine supplementation has not been adequately studied in any pregnant women. It might seem logical that the supplements would be perfectly safe for pregnant women, as Taurine is just an amino acid that is found in many foods (and produced naturally by the human body).
It is probably wise to wait until after pregnancy to try Taurine supplements, or consult your physician before taking Taurine supplements.
What are the possible side effects of Taurine Supplementation?
Side effects of Taurine supplementation are rare and include symptoms like diarrhea and peptic ulcers. The potential for ulcers arises from the fact that Taurine stimulates gastric acid production. For many people who are low in stomach acid, including the elderly and autistic children, gastric acid production could be a benefit. However, if you have plenty of stomach acid or are taking hydrochloric acid (HCl) to aid your digestion, you may want to discuss this with your doctor or discontinue your HCl supplements when supplementing with Taurine.
What kind of supplements enhances Taurine production inside the body?
- Vitamin D3, 1000 – 2000 IU
- Zinc
- Vitamin A
- P5P (active form of vitamin B6)
- Methionine.
Note: Please consult your physician before taking Taurine supplements if you are already taking any of the above supplements.
What are the benefits of Taurine for an expecting mother?
Matador contains Taurine, an amino acid found throughout the body and particularly in muscle and nervetissue. During pregnancy, Taurine deficiency in the mother can negatively impact her baby’s growth, impairing the central nervous system, and pancreas. These babies often grow up to experience impaired glucose tolerance as well as neurological and vascular dysfunction. They can also develop gestational diabetes and transmit these defects to the next generation.
Since Taurine is an essential amino acid for the fetus and newborn (they cannot make Taurine on their own), the mother’s supply of Taurine is essential for her developing baby. If a mother’s Taurine is low during or after her baby’s birth (newborns get Taurine from breast milk), Taurine from her diet or supplementation is important.
- Taurine is an essential amino acid for a developing fetus and newborn babies because they cannot make it themselves – and yet the development of their brain depends on it.
- In fact, Taurine is the highest concentrated amino acid in the brain of the fetus and newborn. The fetus must obtain it through the placenta, and newborns can obtain it from breast milk or formula fortified with Taurine.
- If a pregnant mother has chronic (even low grade) candida, bacterial imbalances or elevated levels of mercury, lead and cadmium (which create zinc deficiency), it could lead to Taurine deficiency in the mother and baby.
- Placental absorption of maternal Taurine can also – be blocked if the fetus is under stress from both mercury and microbial challenges. This can set up a condition where your baby’s detoxification pathways are inhibited, which could lead to neurological problems, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
- Taurine deficiency was found in 62% of autistic children, according to one study.
What are the possible causes of Taurine deficiency?
- There are many reasons your body could be low in Taurine – for an expecting mother, it’s important to know how this could affect their baby.
- Low Taurine can occur if your body does not make enough Taurine due to a deficiency in one or more of the following:
- Cysteine and methionine (amino acids that make Taurine in your body).
- Pyridoxal-5-phosphate (the active form of vitamin B6).
- Zinc (deficiency in zinc is common with elevated mercury levels).
- Vitamin A.
- You are Deficient in the enzyme needed to make Taurine: Many humans may not regularly produce a high level of the enzyme needed to make Taurine (cysteinsulfinic decarboxylase) and are therefore, dependent on dietary sources. If you don’t regularly consume meat, fish, eggs or brewer’s yeast, you could be low in Taurine.
- You have candida: If you have this systemic fungal infection, it produces an amino acid, beta-alanine, which competes with Taurine for reabsorption in the kidney. This causes you to lose Taurine through your urine. An increase of Taurine in urine actually masks a test for low Taurine in your body.
- You are infected with disease-producing anaerobic bacteria: These pathogenic bacteria interfere with the proper functioning of bile acid and degrade Taurine, thereby effecting Taurine levels.
- You are eating foods with MSG (Monosodium glutamate), which degrades Taurine MSG, or Monosodium glutamate, is a food additive that is used to enhance the flavor of processed foods: Food labeling regulations do not require MSG to be labeled as such, which means it can be hidden in foods that you eat.
- Additionally, the following vitamins and amino acids may interfere with Taurine’s functions: The Bvitamin pantothenic acid (B5). The amino acids beta-alanine and beta-hypoTaurine.