Assessment of taurine deficiency in cystic fibrosis.

Bile acid taurine deficiency is common in cystic fibrosis (CF) and is thought to be associated with impaired fat absorption. The relationship between the glycine: taurine bile acid conjugation ratio (bile acid G/T ratio) and taurine concentrations in plasma, urine and leucocytes was examined in 27 CF children aged 4-15 yr. The bile acid G/T ratio was elevated in serum in 14 of the 27 and in duodenal juice in 5 of 6 children. Subgroups of CF children with elevated and normal bile acid G/T ratio and controls (n = 8) all had similar plasma, urine and leucocyte taurine concentrations. The results suggest that either taurine measurement in plasma, urine and leucocytes does not accurately reflect stores elsewhere in CF, or that taurine deficiency is confined to bile acids.