TAURINE THERAPY FOR INTERMITTENT CLAUDICATION - RESULTS OF A CONTROLLED-STUDY

The efficacy and tolerability of taurine (3 g daily) in the treatment of intermittent claudication were evaluated in a double-blind placebo- controlled study in 40 patients. Before therapy and after 3 and 6 mont hs, besides standard treadmill exercise walking times, ankle/arm press ure ratios, plethysmographic peak flow values, transcutaneous oxygen p ressure (TcPO2) was also monitored on the dorsum of the foot in basal conditions together with the half-recovery times after an induced isch emia. Taurine was more beneficial than placebo in lengthening the pain -free and total walking times and significantly shortened TcPO2 half-r ecovery time. These results suggest that taurine not only improves per formance in patients with intermittent claudication but also increases oxygenation in the ischemic limbs.