NEW YORK – Taurine, a naturally occurring nutrient found in dark meat poultry and some fish and shellfish, may provide some protection against coronary heart disease in women with high cholesterol, according to a study by researchers at New York Univ. Langone Medical Center.

The study, which appears online in the European Journal of Nutrition, examined the effects of taurine on coronary heart disease. Researchers found that higher levels of taurine intake was associated with significantly lower risk of coronary heart disease in women with high cholesterol levels. The same results were not seen in women with lower cholesterol levels.

If other researchers can replicate the NYU study's results, taurine supplements or dietary recommendations may be considered for women with high cholesterol who are at risk for coronary heart disease, researchers said.