Taurine supplements with the fewest additives
Taurine is an amino acid that may benefit exercise performance, liver glycogen storage (for which I think I've seen results), and more. However, many taurine supplements use excipients to make manufacturing easier and less expensive. I try to avoid such excipients when possible. If you want to do the same using brands that provide lab analysis of their purity, my recommendations are:
No-additive taurine gelatin capsule recommendation:
- silica-free / silicon-dioxide-free
- hypromellose-free / hydroxypropyl methylcellulose-free
Taurine, gelatin (capsule, bovine source).
No-additive taurine veggie capsule recommendation:
- silica-free / silicon-dioxide-free
- may contain hypromellose / hydroxypropyl methylcellulose
Taurine, cellulose (capsule, probably hydroxypropyl methylcellulose).
No-additive taurine powder recommendations:
Powdered taurine is easy to take by mixing it with a drink, or just swishing it around with a sip of liquid. The taste is fairly neutral.
It does tend to clump up easily, so people in humid areas may be better off with capsules. I find it's easiest to sift out the large clumps and pop them in a blender on a low speed to break them up. I imagine a potato masher would work even better because smashing things is fun.
- silica-free / silicon-dioxide-free
- hypromellose-free / hydroxypropyl methylcellulose-free
Taurine powder.
- silica-free / silicon-dioxide-free
- hypromellose-free / hydroxypropyl methylcellulose-free
Taurine powder.
In Australia?
TrueProtein had a straight taurine powder with a certificate of analysis available, but I can no longer find it on their site. But it might be worth contacting them in case it's just unlisted.
Other taurine products
The following are other taurine products I compared, sorted alphabetically.
| Name | Ingredients |
|---|---|
| Amazing Nutrition Taurine (Gelatin Capsules) | Taurine, gelatin (capsule), magnesium stearate. |
| American Biologics Taurine Plus (Liquid) | Taurine, distilled water, methylparaben. |
| Best Naturals Taurine (Tablets) | Taurine (free-form), vegetable cellulose, dicalcium phosphate, vegetable stearic acid, natural palm leaf glaze, povidone, silica, magnesium stearate. |
| BulkSupplements Taurine (Powder) | Taurine powder, silicon dioxide. The BulkSupplements site doesn't mention the silicon dioxide, but it shows up on the certificate of analysis. |
| California Gold Nutrition Taurine (Gelatin Capsules) | Taurine, gelatin (capsule) and stearic acid (vegetable source). |
| Country Life Taurine (Veggie Capsules) | Vitamin B6 (as pyridoxine hydrochloride), taurine (free-form), cellulose, cellulose (capsule shell [probably hydroxypropyl methylcellulose]), silica, magnesium stearate, stearic acid. |
| Jarrow Formulas Taurine Brain and Memory Support (Gelatin Capsules) | Taurine, magnesium stearate (vegetable source), cellulose, gelatin (capsule). |
| Kirkman Labs L-Taurine (Veggie Capsules) | L-taurine, plant cellulose capsule (probably hydroxypropyl methylcellulose) |
| Life Extension L-Taurine (Powder) | L-taurine |
| Life Extension Taurine (Veggie Capsules) | Taurine, vegetable cellulose (capsule [probably hydroxypropyl methylcellulose]), silica, vegetable stearate. |
| Metabolic Maintenance Taurine (Veggie Capsules) | Taurine, vegetarian cellulose capsule (probably hydroxypropyl methylcellulose). |
| Now Foods Taurine (Gelatin Capsules) | Taurine (free-form), gelatin, stearic acid (vegetable source). Country of origin: China. |
| Now Foods Taurine (Powder) | Taurine (free-form). Country of origin: China. |
| NutraBio Taurine (Powder) | Taurine powder. I tend to trust NutraBio, and suspect this is a good product. However, they don't provide Certificates of Analyses without a specific lot number from a purchase. |
| NutraBio Taurine (Veggie Capsules) | Taurine, vegetable capsules (probably made from hydroxypropyl methylcellulose and water). |
| Nutricost Taurine (Gelatin Capsules) | Taurine, gelatin, rice flour, silicon dioxide. |
| Nutricost Taurine (Powder) | Taurine powder. |
| Powder City Taurine (Powder) [now out of business] | Taurine powder, food-grade silicon dioxide (anti-caking agent). Two certificates of analyses are available: |
| Pure Encapsulations (Veggie Capsules) | Taurine (free-form), hypoallergenic plant fiber (cellulose), ascorbyl palmitate, vegetarian capsule (cellulose [probably hydroxypropyl methylcellulose], water). |
| Solgar Taurine (Veggie Capsules) | Taurine (free form), vegetable cellulose, microcrystalline cellulose, vegetable stearic acid. |
| Source Naturals Taurine (Gelatin Capsules) | Taurine, gelatin (capsule), silica, magnesium stearate. |
| Source Naturals Taurine (Powder) | Taurine powder. |
| Swanson Taurine (Gelatin Capsules) | Taurine, gelatin, may contain one or more of the following: microcrystalline cellulose (plant fiber), magnesium stearate, silica. |
| Thorne Taurine (Veggie Capsules) | Taurine, hypromellose (derived from cellulose) capsule, silicon dioxide. |
| Vital Nutrients Taurine (Gelatin Capsules) | Taurine, gelatin (capsule), leucine. |
