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What is TUDCA (tauroursodeoxycholic acid)? Does it have any proven health benefits, and is it safe?

Latest Update

TUDCA for Acid Reflux?

Medically reviewed and edited by Tod Cooperman, M.D.

Written by Meredith A. Worthington, Ph.D.

Updated February 27, 2023 ⓘ

What is Tudca - white capsules poured out of container

Answer:

TUDCA (tauroursodeoxycholic acid) is used a drug (in Europe) and as a supplement in the U.S. primarily for treating certain liver disorders and gallstone issues, although the evidence that it works is limited, and there are potential side effects and drug interactions. TUDCA has also been proposed for treating amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), insulin resistance, diabetes, fatty liver disease, hepatitis, liver transplant, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, ulcerative colitis, and acid or bile reflux. Although it exists in small amounts naturally in the human body, TUDCA in drugs and supplements is made synthetically. Sign in and read the full answer for more information and details, including a comparison of marketed TUDCA supplements.

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12 Comments

Sean13959

January 05, 2024

I may have had partially clogged bile ducts or lack of bile production for some reason, (not confirmed as an official diagnosis). After taking a course treatment of TUDCA, I no longer had the issue.
After taking half a tums a 3 out of 4 days or so when I first woke up, my stools turned pale white. Which can be caused by calcium antacids. And resolved a couple days after stopping. But, after TUDCA, can take a whole or half calcium antacid tums every day and has no effect on stool color. I had also experienced swelling of my mid and lower abdomen which was like abdominal guarding. Which persisted for months regardless of TUDCA. Did have something that appeared as Meckel's diverticulum on a CT scan. Either way, bile is what causes poo to be brown and a lack of bile is the usual reason for white poo. I am guessing a reduced amount of bile was low enough to be affected by the tums. And later on, guessing a correctly functioning bile system was not affected by even large doses of tums over a longer period. After I had taken TUDCA. Highly inconclusive, anecdote. But does provide some speculation to follow up on.

ConsumerLab.com

January 10, 2024

Thank you for sharing your experience. Be aware that there are several things that could cause clogged bile ducts (e.g., gallstones, tumor, etc.), and white stool can also be caused by conditions such as hepatitis and cirrhosis.

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BOUDJEMA13955

October 10, 2023

A lot of research is being done on TUDCA. So it is definitely a very promising substance. Unfortunately, it is both expensive and most quality brands do not produce/sell it.

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Mandy13953

July 16, 2023

I recently developed IBS and started taking Tudca on the advice of a friend and it seems to help some.

Victoria22663

April 29, 2025

What type of IBS ?

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JARKKO13949

June 10, 2023

I found several human studies saying UDCA works for covid-19 prevention & treatment. One was published at Nature and some human studies have been published after that in 2023 in other papers.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-022-05594-0
Open Access
Published: 05 December 2022
FXR inhibition may protect from SARS-CoV-2 infection by reducing ACE2

QUESTION: would TUDCA also probably work for this purpose?
If for example 1000mg/day UDCA works, 1000mg/day TUDCA should probably work also? I don't know about optimal dose for even UDCA yet. I currently take only 250mg/day for covid-19 prophylaxis as I bought some TUDCA capsules that contain 250mg TUDCA in each capsule.

ConsumerLab.com

June 15, 2023

UDCA may help prevent the virus that causes COVID (SARS-CoV-2) from entering cells by blocking a receptor called farnesoid X receptor or FXR. Blocking FXR reduces the number of ACE2 (angiotensin-converting enzyme?2) receptors on the surface of a cell, which reduces the number of sites at which SARS-CoV-2 can bind to and enter cells. While there is some evidence from laboratory research that TUDCA also reduces FXR, TUDCA has not been evaluated against COVID and, since it is a larger molecule, it seems unlikely that an effective dose of TUDCA, if any, would be the same as that of UDCA.

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LOIS13941

December 10, 2022

Tudca seems to cause stomach pain and diarrhea in me. I have had Hepatitis A. Will continue to monitor it.

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Delynn13940

August 04, 2022

Family member using Cellcore Advanced Tudca for digestive issues & it seems to help. But cost is $85.

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Rita13938

June 23, 2022

Many naturopaths and chiropractors are prescribing as a bile mover and therefore mycotoxin remover. I review on products out there would be sooo helpful. Thank you!

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