TUDCA (Tauroursodeoxycholic Acid)

Commonly used for
Liver Health
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What is it? / Overview
TUDCA is a hydrophilic bile acid that promotes bile flow, counteracts toxic bile acids, and reduces endoplasmic-reticulum stress -- genuine pharmacologic evidence supports it for diagnosed cholestatic liver disease as a drug (in countries where it's approved as one). The broader 'longevity/detox' supplement claims rest on animal healthspan data, not human trials, and shouldn't be conflated with the liver-disease evidence.
How is it used? / Administration
Form: Tauroursodeoxycholic acid (taurine conjugate of UDCA) -- a genuine drug in some countries for cholestatic liver disease; sold OTC as a supplement in the U.S.
Typical dose studied: ~250-1,750 mg/day in supplement products, often divided; medical dosing for liver disease is weight-based and physician-directed
Timing: With food, often divided
Ships trigger-empty and deliberately without a wellness-use recommendation -- the framing risk here is real: someone with abnormal liver enzymes could self-treat with this instead of seeing a doctor, which this entry is written to actively discourage.
How well does it work? / Evidence
? Emerging / limited evidence
Who should avoid it?
Avoid with: Cholelithiasis / Gallstones
Interacts with: Bile-acid sequestrants (cholestyramine, colesevelam), aluminum antacids -- bind bile acids and reduce absorption; separate dosing
Already taking it? Real pharmacologic evidence exists for cholestatic liver disease specifically -- but that's a medical, physician-directed context, not self-supplementation. Abnormal liver enzymes should be evaluated by a doctor, not self-treated with a supplement.
Research & references
Häussinger D, Kordes C (2017). Mechanisms of Tauroursodeoxycholate-Mediated Hepatoprotection. Digestive Diseases. Liu JY et al. (2025). Tauroursodeoxycholic Acid Targets HSP90 to Promote Protein Homeostasis and Extends Healthy Lifespan. Science China Life Sciences.
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