Our livers do a lot of heavy lifting for our bodies. They allow us to absorb nutrients, digest food, expel toxins, and so much more. When you’re looking to improve your overall health, strong liver support is a great starting point. Liver support commonly includes things like milk thistle, dandelion root and turmeric, which are all effective remedies for supporting your liver. However, there’s a standout supplement for liver support that’s gained a lot of attention in recent years: TUDCA. Let’s take a closer look at what it is, how it works, and why you may want to consider adding it to your liver support regimen.
What is TUDCA?
TUDCA, short for tauroursodeoxycholic acid, has been used in Chinese medicine for more than 3000 years, but has only been recognized by Western science in recent years. It’s a conjugated bile salt which is formed in the liver by combining the bile acid ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) with the amino acid taurine. Primarily, bile salts are responsible for helping your body break down fats, but they also help with a number of different things:
- Help absorb fat-soluble vitamins like vitamins A, D, E and K
- Eliminate waste products and toxins (via the stool)
- Aid in hormone formation
How does it work in the body?
As a bile salt, TUDCA is primarily used to support the liver and digestive system in several ways. It improves the composition of the bile produced in the liver, making it more effective at digesting fats, which helps us absorb fat-soluble vitamins more efficiently. This improved bile composition also helps us maintain healthy cholesterol levels as it breaks down and removes excess cholesterol from the body. It also thins the bile out, which improves motility, prevents toxins and bile from building up in the liver, and reduces potential gallstone formation.
Another added benefit of this improved bile composition is that it increases the protective mucus in our gut wall barrier that prevents toxins from entering the bloodstream. It’s also been shown to calm inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract and create a more favourable environment for beneficial bacteria in our gut microbiome.
Potential for cellular protection
Recent research has uncovered that TUDCA has a unique mechanism of action, which may potentially benefit more than just our liver and digestive system. Our cells have a special compartment called the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) that works like a protein factory. When too much stress is put on this protein-making mechanism, it leads to ER stress, which has been linked to various diseases, including diabetes, obesity, heart disease and even cancer. Studies have shown that TUDCA effectively reduces ER stress by promoting proper protein folding.
Protein folding is a process that your body does constantly. We’re always creating new proteins, as they are required for everything from our enzymes and hormones to our bone and muscle tissue. They’re made by combining amino acids into specific shapes and sizes, which depend on what they’ll be used for. Similar to metal being shaped to manufacture a car, the shape of the structure needs to be just right to work correctly. If the complex structure of a protein is just a little off, it can cause major problems and affect all kinds of processes in our body.
Pharmacological compounds that have the ability to reduce ER stress and improve our body’s ability to fold proteins correctly are known as “chemical chaperones”. They’re called this because they watch over the protein folding process and ensure that things run smoothly. TUDCA has been shown to be one of these chemical chaperones. Interestingly, TUDCA may be able to cross the blood-brain barrier in humans, meaning that the cellular protection effects could even extend to the brain.
Should I supplement with TUDCA?
TUDCA can be taken as daily liver and digestion support, or added as part of a liver protocol. It may be beneficial for individuals with fatty liver, gallstones or a removed gallbladder. Studies have also shown that TUDCA may be a safe and effective treatment for liver cirrhosis. The best plan is to speak with your healthcare practitioner to create a personalized plan.
TUDCA you can trust
Looking for a safe and reliable source of TUDCA? CanPrev’s TUDCA is formulated in Canada, practitioner-approved, and rigorously tested for purity, potency and efficacy. Our synergistic formula contains 250mg of TUDCA and 75mg of choline bitartrate per capsule. Choline is a water-soluble essential nutrient that supports your liver by maintaining healthy cholesterol levels. Together, TUDCA and choline make a mighty duo for enhanced liver support.
With so many options, liver support can be quite a rabbit hole, but we hope that you’re inspired to add TUDCA to your routine. With several benefits for liver health and digestion, plus its unique mechanism of action and ongoing research, TUDCA is definitely a supplement you should keep an eye on.
Sources:
Tauroursodeoxycholate—Bile Acid with Chaperoning Activity: Molecular and Cellular Effects and Therapeutic Perspectives
Safety, tolerability, and cerebrospinal fluid penetration of ursodeoxycholic Acid in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Efficacy and safety of tauroursodeoxycholic acid in the treatment of liver cirrhosis
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