1. What is it?
Tauroursodeoxycholic acid, more commonly known as TUDCA, exists in bile excreted by our liver and stored in the gallbladder for obvious reasons. It is the taurine bound form of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA). The content of TUDCA in human bile is very small, but it accounts for about 50% of bear bile. In fact, TUDCA has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for more than 100 years. Before the discovery of chemical substitutes, this ingredient was actually extracted from bear bile.
Bile helps digestion; Help the body break down fat into fatty acids, making it easier for our digestive tract to absorb them. Bile consists of four main components; Cholesterol, bilirubin, bile acids (also called bile salts), and of course water. When supplement, TUDCA appears in the form of salt, and will be listed as TUDCA (sodium taurine ursodeoxycholic acid) on the nutrition composition table.
2. What does it do?
We are completely honest with you here; There is no validation of how TUDCA does this, but many studies have shown very interesting results. TUDCA has actually obtained FDA certification and can be used to treat liver diseases such as cholestasis, which is a disease in which the liver slows down or stops the production or outflow of bile. Supplementing TUDCA can help the body recover and increase bile secretion.
The main benefit of TUDCA is to improve liver health and function. The study cited the impressive results of reduced liver enzymes after TUDCA supplementation. The increase of liver enzyme indicates that the liver is healthy and functional, while the low liver enzyme indicates that the liver is healthy and functional. The supplement of TUDCA showed that the key liver enzymes were significantly reduced, representing the improvement of liver health.
These improvements in liver health make TUDCA so influential for users of anabolic substances, especially those who take them orally. These substances will have a great impact on our liver health and function. In addition to regular blood tests to monitor health, it is always recommended to take periodic support supplements. TUDCA is considered to be one of the best liver health products today.
The benefits are not only liver, but also to explain the additional benefits of TUDCA. We need a little scientific knowledge again to better understand this component
Apoptosis is cell death that occurs as a normal part of the growth and development of organisms. The main part of cells involved in apoptosis is mitochondria. Mitochondria are the power source of our cells, responsible for providing energy for cells. Mitochondria also release and activate certain molecules that play a role in initiating apoptosis. When something disrupts the mitochondrial membrane, the mitochondria release a molecule called cytochrome c. Cytochrome c then invokes an enzyme called caspase, which then initiates a cascade reaction leading to apoptosis.
TUDCA can protect mitochondria from the influence of cell components that usually cause such interference, thus preventing apoptosis. It does this by preventing a molecule called Bax from being transported to mitochondria. When Bax transfers from the cytosol to the mitochondria, it will destroy the mitochondrial membrane, thus triggering a series of reactions. Bax is blocked by TUDCA, which will prevent the synthesis of cell membrane, and then prevent the release of cytochrome c, thus preventing mitochondria from activating caspase. TUDCA prevents cell death by protecting the mitochondrial membrane of cells.
TUDCA prevents cell death by protecting the mitochondrial membrane from harmful elements. This process and physical reaction is why the study is studying the benefits of supplementing TUDCA for people with nervous system diseases (such as Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease and ALS). The results of these studies and early recommendations are very exciting. TUDCA can have some very beneficial effects on some major diseases.
The study also showed that the insulin sensitivity of muscle and liver was improved, and had a positive impact on thyroid health. A study using animals and very large doses of TUDCA showed that neuroprotective effects can improve age-related memory decline. These studies cannot finally explain the mechanism of how TUDCA does this. More human studies are needed to obtain more definitive results and doses.
3. How much do I need to take?
Various doses have been studied for the benefits of TUDCA. Starting from 10-13 mg/day of TUDCA supplement, liver enzymes in patients with chronic liver disease decreased significantly for 3 months. A daily dose of up to 1750 mg has been shown to be beneficial for fatty liver, improving muscle and liver insulin sensitivity. The animals studied showed that doses up to 4000 mg (equivalent to humans) had a positive effect on neuroprotective effects against age-related memory loss.
Despite these extreme doses, 500 mg to 1500 mg per day seems to be an ideal dose to produce the effect of TUDCA. Most supplements appear to contain 100 – 250 mg of TUDCA per serving, taken multiple times per day. As with many of these components, more research is needed to obtain specific figures.
4. When should I take it?
TUDCA can be taken at any time of the day, preferably with food to help absorption. As mentioned above, the dosage of most supplements is 100 – 250 mg per dose. It is recommended to disperse the dosage of TUDCA within one day, taking it 2, 3, 4 or even 5 times a day.
5. How long does it take to work?
TUDCA will not work overnight. The study reported various effects of TUDCA after 1, 2, 3 or even 6 months of supplementation. From the existing research, it can be said with certainty that it will take at least 30 days (1 month) of supplementation to see improvements and benefits. However, continuous and long-term use will yield the greatest benefit from supplementing TUDCA.