TUDCA (tauroursodeoxycholic acid)
Endogenous taurine-conjugated bile acid, preliminary RCT signal in cholestatic and metabolic-liver conditions; commonly stacked for liver support.
Why
Tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA) is the taurine-conjugated form of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA, ursodiol, a prescription medication). Used clinically in China for decades; small Western RCTs (Pan 2013 Hepatol Res, Vang 2014 Glob Adv Health Med) report improvements in cholestatic and metabolic-liver markers. TUDCA is also studied for ER stress in retinal degeneration, neurodegeneration, and pancreatic β-cell preservation.
How it works
More hydrophilic and less cytotoxic than other bile acids, protects hepatocytes from hydrophobic-bile-acid-mediated apoptosis. Reduces endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress via inhibition of the unfolded protein response. Chemical chaperone activity on protein folding.
Expected onset · Hepatic biomarker changes over 8–12 weeks
How to take
Dosage
Liver support: 250–500 mg twice daily. Higher doses (1,000–1,750 mg/day) in published RCTs of metabolic liver disease.
Timing
Divided 2–3 times daily with food
On the label
'TUDCA' or 'tauroursodeoxycholic acid' with stated mg per dose. Distinct from UDCA (prescription ursodiol) and from generic bile salts.
Ideal for
Adults with cholestatic liver complaints or NAFLD/NASH seeking adjunctive support under specialist guidance; people exploring liver-support stacks.
Safety
Evidence
Pan 2013 Hepatol Res small RCT in NAFLD: TUDCA reduced ALT and steatosis markers vs placebo. Vang 2014 review summarised emerging non-liver evidence (retinal, neurodegenerative, β-cell). Preliminary, RCTs exist in non-tier-1 journals but are small or short-duration. No Cochrane review, EMA monograph or EFSA-authorised claim covers the indication.
Preliminary, RCTs exist in non-tier-1 journals but are small or short-duration. No Cochrane review, EMA monograph or EFSA-authorised claim covers the indication.
- Pan et al., Hepatol Res 2013, TUDCA for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (RCT)
- Vang et al., Glob Adv Health Med 2014, the unexpected uses of urso- and tauroursodeoxycholic acid in the treatment of non-liver diseases (review)
- Kusaczuk, Cells 2019, tauroursodeoxycholate, bile acid with chaperoning activity: molecular and cellular effects and therapeutic perspectives
Where to get it
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