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TUDCA is a water soluble bile acid. It shows great potency in treating cholestasis (bile acid backup in the liver) as the water soluble bile acids counteract the toxicity of regular bile acids. Can also protect and rehabilitate the liver, and general protects cells; very promising molecule.
Our evidence-based analysis on tauroursodeoxycholic acid features 77 unique references to scientific papers.
Kamal Patel
Research analysis led by Kamal Patel and reviewed by the Examine team.
Last Updated: Feb 1, 2021
Summary of Tauroursodeoxycholic Acid
Primary information, health benefits, side effects, usage, and other important details
Tauroursodeoxycholic acid, more commonly referred to as TUDCA, is a bile salt that is found natrually occurring in the body. When regular bile salts reach the intestines, they can be metabolized by bacteria into UDCA and then later bound to a taurine molecule to become TUDCA.
TUDCA is a water-soluble bile salt, which is in contrast to regular bile salts possessing both water soluble and fat soluble ends and conferring a detergent effect. This is good for the bile salt's biological purpose (emulsifying fats in the intestines to help with absorption) but when bile acids back up in the liver, a clinical state called cholestasis which occurs when the liver is unhealthy, these bile salts can be damaging to cells by destroying the membranes and signalling for cell death. TUDCA and other water soluble bile salts like UDCA compete with this toxicity and thus indirectly protect cells from death.
Additionally, it seems that TUDCA is able to reduce stress to any cell's Endoplasmic Reticulum; an organelle in cells that serves as a highway from the nucleus out into the cytoplasm, and aids in folding proteins. Through reducing ER stress, TUDCA has been implicated in a wide range of beneficial metabolic effects such as reducing insulin resistance and diabetes, and being a neurological protection agent. However, usages of TUDCA beyond the liver are preliminary whereas usage of TUDCA for helping an already harmed liver is quite reliable as TUDCA is used in clinical settings (hospitals) for treating cholestasis.
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How to Take
Recommended dosage, active amounts, other details
10-13mg daily has once been shown to improve liver regenesis rates in a clinically ill population, and may be the lowest estimate of an active oral dose. When looking at improving bile salt composition, a dose around 15-20mg/kg bodyweight TUDCA seems best according to one study.
Benefits have been seen at 1,750mg daily for muscle and liver insulin sensitivity, which is the highest dose used for treatment of fatty liver disease.
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Human Effect Matrix
Unlocked for Examine Members
The Human Effect Matrix summarizes human studies to tell you what effects Tauroursodeoxycholic Acid has on your body, how much evidence there is, and how strong these effects are.
Full details are available to Examine Members. Not a Member? Try Examine Membership completely free for two weeks.
GRADE LEVEL OF EVIDENCE[show legend]
LEVEL OF EVIDENCE? OUTCOME MAGNITUDE OF EFFECT? CONSISTENCY OF RESEARCH RESULTS? NOTES
grade-b
Liver Enzymes
Notable Very High
See all 5 studies
The decrease in liver enzymes associated with cholestasis is quite strong, and TUDCA is a reference drug for these effects
grade-c
Cholestasis
Notable -
See study
Is either comparable or exceeds the potency of ursodeoxycholic acid, the reference drug for cholestasis
grade-c
Insulin Sensitivity
Notable -
See study
Notable due to reaching near 30% improvement in obese persons and only being localized to muscle tissue and the liver, but not adipose tissue
grade-c
Blood glucose
- -
See study
No significant influence on fasting glucose levels
grade-c
Body Fat
- -
See study
No significant influence on fat mass in obese persons
grade-c
Insulin
- -
See study
No significant influence on fasting insulin levels
grade-c
Weight
- -
See study
No significant influence on weight in obese persons
grade-d
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)
Minor -
See study
A decrease in HDL-C has been noted to be secondary to treating cholestasis
grade-d
Liver Cell Content
Minor -
See study
An increase in hepatocyte regeneration has been noted with TUDCA in persons with liver disease
grade-d
Total cholesterol
Minor -
See study
A decrease in total cholesterol in serum has been noted secondary to treating cholestasis
Our evidence-based analysis on tauroursodeoxycholic acid features 77 unique references to scientific papers.
Kamal Patel
Research analysis led by Kamal Patel and reviewed by the Examine team.
Last Updated: Feb 1, 2021
Summary of Tauroursodeoxycholic Acid
Primary information, health benefits, side effects, usage, and other important details
Tauroursodeoxycholic acid, more commonly referred to as TUDCA, is a bile salt that is found natrually occurring in the body. When regular bile salts reach the intestines, they can be metabolized by bacteria into UDCA and then later bound to a taurine molecule to become TUDCA.
TUDCA is a water-soluble bile salt, which is in contrast to regular bile salts possessing both water soluble and fat soluble ends and conferring a detergent effect. This is good for the bile salt's biological purpose (emulsifying fats in the intestines to help with absorption) but when bile acids back up in the liver, a clinical state called cholestasis which occurs when the liver is unhealthy, these bile salts can be damaging to cells by destroying the membranes and signalling for cell death. TUDCA and other water soluble bile salts like UDCA compete with this toxicity and thus indirectly protect cells from death.
Additionally, it seems that TUDCA is able to reduce stress to any cell's Endoplasmic Reticulum; an organelle in cells that serves as a highway from the nucleus out into the cytoplasm, and aids in folding proteins. Through reducing ER stress, TUDCA has been implicated in a wide range of beneficial metabolic effects such as reducing insulin resistance and diabetes, and being a neurological protection agent. However, usages of TUDCA beyond the liver are preliminary whereas usage of TUDCA for helping an already harmed liver is quite reliable as TUDCA is used in clinical settings (hospitals) for treating cholestasis.
Share
Link
Follow
Print version
Guidance from the experts
Learn what supplements to take for your specific health goals with the Examine Supplement Guides.
Want a deeper look at the research? Examine Members get full access to the comprehensive research database, monthly study summaries, and the latest in-depth analysis.
Your support allows us to be 100% independent and unbiased.
How to Take
Recommended dosage, active amounts, other details
10-13mg daily has once been shown to improve liver regenesis rates in a clinically ill population, and may be the lowest estimate of an active oral dose. When looking at improving bile salt composition, a dose around 15-20mg/kg bodyweight TUDCA seems best according to one study.
Benefits have been seen at 1,750mg daily for muscle and liver insulin sensitivity, which is the highest dose used for treatment of fatty liver disease.
Easily stay on top of the latest nutrition research
Become an Examine Member to get access to the latest research. Get 150+ studies summarized for you across 25 different categories every month.
Members also have access to the Examine Study Database of 400+ supplements and their effects on 600+ health outcomes, as well as in-depth research analyses. Understand the whole body of nutrition and supplement evidence at a glance.
Already a Member? Click here to log in.
Human Effect Matrix
Unlocked for Examine Members
The Human Effect Matrix summarizes human studies to tell you what effects Tauroursodeoxycholic Acid has on your body, how much evidence there is, and how strong these effects are.
Full details are available to Examine Members. Not a Member? Try Examine Membership completely free for two weeks.
GRADE LEVEL OF EVIDENCE[show legend]
LEVEL OF EVIDENCE? OUTCOME MAGNITUDE OF EFFECT? CONSISTENCY OF RESEARCH RESULTS? NOTES
grade-b
Liver Enzymes
Notable Very High
See all 5 studies
The decrease in liver enzymes associated with cholestasis is quite strong, and TUDCA is a reference drug for these effects
grade-c
Cholestasis
Notable -
See study
Is either comparable or exceeds the potency of ursodeoxycholic acid, the reference drug for cholestasis
grade-c
Insulin Sensitivity
Notable -
See study
Notable due to reaching near 30% improvement in obese persons and only being localized to muscle tissue and the liver, but not adipose tissue
grade-c
Blood glucose
- -
See study
No significant influence on fasting glucose levels
grade-c
Body Fat
- -
See study
No significant influence on fat mass in obese persons
grade-c
Insulin
- -
See study
No significant influence on fasting insulin levels
grade-c
Weight
- -
See study
No significant influence on weight in obese persons
grade-d
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)
Minor -
See study
A decrease in HDL-C has been noted to be secondary to treating cholestasis
grade-d
Liver Cell Content
Minor -
See study
An increase in hepatocyte regeneration has been noted with TUDCA in persons with liver disease
grade-d
Total cholesterol
Minor -
See study
A decrease in total cholesterol in serum has been noted secondary to treating cholestasis
