Vegans and epilepsy

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Gottfried Stutz - 20 Oct 2004 00:55 GMT

Hi all,

various studies have linked low taurine levels to epilepsy.
Vegans have lower taurine levels due to lower input (also of cysteine).
Thus, one would expect vegans to have a higher incidence of epilepsy.
But I can't find any study showing this. Any idea why?

TIA,
George

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Daniel - 20 Oct 2004 12:08 GMT

> Hi all,
>
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> TIA,
> George

Because only pathological low levels of taurine are linked with epilepsy
Vegans have just "lower" levels compared to meat-eaters but not "low"
levels at all compared to what is considered ideal
Only 2% of the population suffer from a poor taurine synthesis, for them
a supplement is required even though they eat meat
Vegans have no higher incidence of epilepsy
It's not the low taurine levels that cause epilepsy but epilepsy that
cause poor taurine synthesis

Daniel

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