What Is Better: Taurine or Beta-Alanine? | Exercise.com Learn: Your Fitness Business Resource

What Is Better: Taurine or Beta-Alanine?

Tyler Spraul is the director of UX and the head trainer for Exercise.com. He has his Bachelor of Science degree in pre-medicine and is an NSCA-certified strength and conditioning specialist. He is a former All-American soccer player and still coaches soccer today. In his free time, he enjoys reading, learning, and living the dad life. He has been featured in Shape, Healthline, HuffPost, Women's...

Full Bio →

Written by

UPDATED: Aug 25, 2020

Advertiser Disclosure

It’s all about your brand. Let us do the heavy lifting.

Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident fitness software decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. Our partners do not influence our content. Our opinions are our own.

Editorial Guidelines: The Editorial Team at Exercise.com is dedicated to providing fair, unbiased information about the fitness industry. We update our site regularly and all content is reviewed by credentialed fitness experts.

Get the Basics...
  • Taurine and beta-alanine each have their own benefits.
  • Taurine helps with muscle maintenance and is a popular supplement among bodybuilders.
  • Beta-alanine helps to increase not only the strength of muscles but also their size, so it is popular with bodybuilders and others who lift weights.
  • When debating to take either taurine or beta-alanine, it is a good idea to explore the possibilities of side effects as this may help you choose.

Taurine and beta-alanine are amino acids found in the human body.

Both are considered to be non-essential amino acids. This means that the body is able to synthesize both of them naturally.

This being said, many people choose to also supplement with them for different reasons. There are some questions about whether one is better than the other, and the answer is that each one has its own benefits, so it depends on the reasons for taking it.

This article will talk about both taurine and beta-alanine so that you can be informed as to which one would be better to supplement with for your needs.

Of course, no supplement routine is complete without being combined with a regular exercise routine. Go PRO for access to workout plans, personal trainers, and more. Sign up now. 

What Are the Benefits of Taurine?

Although some amino acids in the body are attached to the structural proteins of the body, taurine is a free amino acid that is found in the bloodstream and tissues.

It is often found in the nervous system, the skeletal muscles, and the heart. As a result, taurine has many benefits in the human body.

As part of the nervous system, taurine plays a significant role in the function of the brain. One of the ways it does this is by supporting certain neurotransmitters and by protecting certain aspects of the brain.

Taurine also helps move three key nutrients to the brain: sodium, magnesium, and potassium. It can help those who have Alzheimer’s disease as well as those who are manic depressive.

Taurine helps with muscle maintenance and is a popular supplement with bodybuilders. It helps to increase the flow of blood, oxygen, and nutrients to the muscles which helps to increase the mass of muscles as well as help speed recovery after a hard workout.

Taurine helps to metabolize fats in the body, has antioxidant properties, and helps with the function of the heart.

What Are the Benefits of Beta-Alanine?

A lot of the benefits of beta-alanine are related to the function of muscles. Many athletes also take this supplement as a part of their workout program. Beta-alanine helps to increase not only the strength of muscles but also their size so it is popular with bodybuilders and others who lift weights.

Beta-alanine helps to increase endurance in the body.

It helps to increase aerobic endurance which is good for endurance athletes like runners and cyclists. It also increases anaerobic endurance which is good for those who exercise at high intensity for short periods of time.

Beta-alanine decreases the amount of time that is needed for athletes to recover after a hard workout.  It is a popular fitness supplement.

Beta-alanine helps to increase the number of antibodies in the body, which strengthens the immune system. The immune system is also boosted by beta-alanine because it stimulates the production of lymphocytes.

Beta-alanine is a good supplement to take for those who are recovering from an illness, are under extra stress, or have suppressed immune systems for other reasons.

Get More Out of Your Health and Fitness Routine. Go PRO!

Sign Up

Are There Side Effects to Either Taurine or Beta-Alanine?

When debating to take either taurine or beta-alanine, it is a good idea to explore the possibilities of side effects as this may help you choose.

The good news about both taurine and beta-alanine is that there is a very low incidence of side effects with both supplements. Because both of them are natural substances, when a normal dosage is taken, side effects should not occur.

Although side effects are rare, you should always consult with your physician or other health care provider before taking a supplement, especially if you have other health conditions or are taking any medication, as these can cause complications.

Beta-alanine can affect individuals who have liver or kidney disease, especially when taken in high doses. With beta-alanine, high doses can also cause tingling and flushing. For more information, check out the USDA’s nutrition website.

Are you breastfeeding or pregnant? Then you should not take beta-alanine supplements. This is mostly because the effects on your baby are not known. You should also not supplement with taurine if pregnant or breastfeeding.

If you are considering taking taurine but are taking medications for high blood sugar, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol, you should consult with your physician. Taurine can affect these levels. Taurine can also thin the blood so take caution if you are taking anticoagulants.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

– Do I have to take supplements?

Unless your doctor has instructed you to take certain supplements, you do not have to take them.

– Are supplements safe?

Whether or not dietary supplements are safe to take depends on a number of factors. Learn more about the safety of supplements here.

– What supplements do I need to take?

No one can answer that aside from your doctor. To learn more about the various supplements that doctors commonly recommend, check out this article.

A carefully-created supplement program needs a strategically-created workout routine. Join our Pro plan today for access to certified personal trainers, workout plans, and more!

Learn more about Exercise.com Fitness Business Management Software.

Schedule your demo today.