What Is TUDCA? Benefits, Uses & Side Effects Explained

Author's Bio: Katie Bailey, MS, RD, LD, FNC

What if I told you that there's a compound that your body already makes in small amounts that can actually protect your liver from damage, improved digestion, and may even have benefits for your brain?

Sounds almost too good to be true, right?

Well, that compound is known as TUDCA.

What is TUDCA? Understanding Its Role in Liver Health and Digestion

TUDCA is the acronym for Tauroursodeoxycholic acid, and this is a naturally occurring bile acid that is found in small quantities in the body. TUDCA is often referred to as a bile salt or a bile acid supplement that is known for improving bile flow as well as improving in supporting healthy liver function.

Bile salts are produced by the liver and they play a crucial role in the digestion and absorption of our fats, as well as our fat soluble vitamins, which are vitamins A, D, E, and K. They also aid in the removal of waste products from the body.

However, the production and the regulation of bile salts are complex processes and the disruption in these processes can lead to imbalances in bile salt levels.

In a healthy individual, about 95% of bile salts are recirculated, poor diet, decreased liver function, as well as certain medications can disrupt or impair this process. This is where supplementation can be very helpful.

We're going to jump into the benefits of TUDCA next.

But first, I'm Katie Bailey, I'm a registered dietitian at Flusso Nutrients where we provide supplement education and professional quality supplement options for you to make the world of nutrition supplements a little bit easier to navigate.

As always, be sure to check with your main nutrition literate healthcare provider before starting anything new. As we can't know your full medical history to provide a personalized recommendation.

So without further ado, let's jump into today's topic.

[Video Transcript Below + Supplement Links Discussed In Video]

Liver and Gallbladder Support: TUDCA’s Core Benefit

The first benefit I want to talk about today is that it's extremely supportive to the liver and our gallbladder, so it is going to help to improve bile flow from the liver to the gallbladder and to the intestines, which is going to enhance digestion as well as the absorption of our fats and our fat soluble vitamins.

It's also very supportive for a liver detox. It aids in the removal of harmful substances from the liver, which is going to decrease inflammation and cellular damage. It has been shown to have anti-inflammatory effects, so it's going to, like I said, help to reduce inflammation, which is going to be very beneficial for conditions like fatty liver disease.

And then lastly, research suggests that it has a protective effect on our liver cells, so protecting them from oxidative stress and toxic bile acids.

Cellular and Mitochondrial Protection with TUDCA

The next benefit is cellular and mitochondrial protection. So TUDCA has powerful cell protecting properties. It enhances and supports mitochondrial function, which in turn is going to help our cells to produce more energy efficiently. It also helps to reduce oxidative stress and inflammation in the cells.

Neuroprotective Effects: TUDCA for Brain Health

The next benefit is that it has neuroprotective effects. So though TUDCA is known as a liver supplement, it's also being researched to support brain health because it crosses the blood brain barrier and has anti-inflammatory properties in the nervous system. It may help to slow neurodegeneration by stabilizing mitochondrial membranes as well as reducing brain inflammation. And in animal studies, it has been shown to improve symptoms of Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and a LS.

TUDCA for Gut Health: Supporting the Gut-Liver Axis

Now, the last major benefit of TUDCA is gut health, so the liver and the gut are deeply connected through the gut-liver axis and bile acids, like in TUDCA play a crucial role in modulating our gut microbiome. Because a healthy bile flow helps to balance out our gut bacteria, it also helps to reduce intestinal permeability or in other words, leaky gut. And it supports mucosal immunity by keeping inflammation low in the gut.

Potential Side Effects and Medication Interactions to Watch Out For

While TUDCA is generally considered well tolerated and safe, there are some potential side effects, so TUDCA may cause mild GI symptoms like nausea, diarrhea, or some abdominal cramping individuals, especially when it's taken at high dosages. TUDCA may also interact with certain medications like anticoagulants or cholesterol lowering medications. So if you have any underlying medical conditions or are currently taking medications, be sure to check with your healthcare provider first.

Special Considerations: TUDCA Use During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

And then lastly, there's not a lot of research on its use in pregnancy or breastfeeding, so if that's you, make sure you check with your healthcare provider as well.

TUDCA Dosage Guidelines: Start Low and Adjust Slowly

To limit the risk of side effects, it's important to follow dosage recommendations or work with a practitioner that can determine the best dosage for you for your specific condition. As always, you really want to start at a low dose and increase as tolerated.

Choosing Quality TUDCA Supplements for Liver and Cellular Health

Now, most TUDCA supplements have a dosage between 250 milligrams to a thousand milligrams per day, and it's often split in two dosages. It's best taken with meals, especially with a meal that has some added fat to it because that can help it absorb better, and some people use it for general liver support while others use it with conditions that already have quite a bit of liver stress.

In conclusion, TUDCA is a promising option for supporting your liver as well as your overall cellular health. If you're curious about trying it, make sure that you choose a quality supplement and the right dosage for you and always pair it with healthy habits like good nutrition and regular movement. If you're interested, I'll have quality options linked below in the description box.

That's it for today. If you liked this video, please hit the like button and subscribe for more nutrition videos. Let us know in the comments if you've ever tried TUDCA before or if you have any questions.

If you're interested in working with clinic, you could click the link here to schedule an appointment. We do take insurance and you can find more information about that on our website.

Thank you for watching. I'll see you next time. Bye.

Check out the high-quality supplements we discussed in this video - links below for your convenience!

1) TUDCA by Body Bio: create an account here, then search the name "TUDCA by Body Bio" - https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/flussonutrients

2) ALL PROFESSIONAL QUALITY SUPPLEMENTS: https://flussonutrients.nutridyn.com & https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/flussonutrients