Is TUDCA one of nature’s top body protection substances?
What was once thought of as a liver and gallbladder super supplement is now known to have sweeping systemic health benefits.
Clinical research highlights TUDCA’s potential to enhance:
- Lifespan & healthspan
- Human performance (cognition and sports)
- Cardiovascular, liver, kidney, skin, mitochondria, and brain optimization
- Cellular health
- Nutrient absorption
- Digestion & gut function
- Detoxification
- Energy & metabolism (glucose levels)
- Hormone balance
All with incredible safety?
Sounds too good to be true.
I’ll break down everything you should know about this incredible substance. If you want to jump in straight to the top TUDCA products, click below:
Best Overall: BodyBio Tauroursodeoxycholic Acid
Best Complex: LVLUP Health TUDCA
Best Powder: Bulk Supplements TUDCA Powder
In this article, I’ll review the benefits, use cases, side effects, and the best TUDCA supplements for your lifestyle.
What is TUDCA & How Does it Work?
Tauro-Urso-Deoxy-Cholic Acid (TUDCA) is a water-soluble bile acid naturally found in trace amounts in your body.
The liver produces bile salts from bile acids, and stores them in the gallbladder.
After storage in the gallbladder, TUDCA improves bile flow, promoting digestion and enterohepatic circulation.
Intestinal bacteria break down bile salts and convert them into a precursor called UDCA.
Then, the less powerful UDCA combines with taurine to form TUDCA.
TUDCA is vital to:
- Digest dietary fat
- Absorb fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K)
- Eliminate toxins
Interestingly, it’s one of few substances that can reverse liver damage.
But the liver health is only the beginning.
This molecule plays crucial roles to many bodily organs and functions—from liver, to gallbladder, to the brain, to the gut, to the eyes, and to metabolism.
It even extends to organelles within cells (mitochondria) and overall cellular health.
TUDCA also helps with weight loss by increasing GLP1 release and creating the same satiety signal as the powerful yet potentially dangerous GLP1 drugs.
Although it’s only now trending, TUDCA has a long history of usage in Chinese medicine and Native American medicine for various treatments Share on XBack then, it came from bear bile (about half of bear bile is made of TUDCA). These days, TUDCA is man-made.
Your body naturally produces some TUDCA, but therapeutic doses can help the body work more effectively.
Benefits & Uses of TUDCA Supplementation
You’re probably wondering… what exactly does tauroursodeoxycholic acid do?
While once considered a tool for liver and gallbladder health, newer research suggests far more.
Some of the highlights of TUDCA’s proposed benefits include:
- Thin bile & improves flow
- Reduces stroke risk & helps repair damage
- Promotes vision & improves retinal degeneration
- Helps Parkinson’s disease symptoms
- Aids against ALS
- Boosts cellular energy (via thyroid and mitochondria upregulation)
- Improves nervous system health
- Longevity & anti-aging effects
- Weight loss (indirectly by enhancing GLP-1 release & satiety)
- Strengthens gut barrier (tight junctions)
- Improves insulin sensitivity
- Reduces spasms
- Alleviates reduce fevers
- Heightens visual acuity
- Reduces apoptosis
- Powerful anti-inflammatory
- Protects the brain
- Protects the kidneys
Let’s explore some of TUDCA’s notable effects in greater detail.
In clinical trials, TUDCA supplements show systemic health benefits. For the liver and GI system, and the benefits go well beyond digestion.
Liver health & protection
The liver is one of the most under-appreciated determinants of your overall health. It’s intricately involved in many of your body’s most important functions.
Some of these functions include:
- Metabolization of hormones
- Digestion
- Breaking down drugs, supplements, and chemicals
- Detoxing common exposures
- Killing pathogens
- Stabilizing blood sugar
TUDCA helps by reducing liver enzymes and oxidative stress, reversing liver damage, promoting bile flow, and increasing bile duct integrity.
By aiding toxin transport through bile, these improvements support overall liver health.
These benefits are made apparent through liver health biomarkers such as liver enzymes (ALT, AST, ALP).
Whether it’s for alcohol-induced liver dysfunction, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), hepatitis, or any other liver health concern, TUDCA is a supplement worth considering.
Bile flow optimization
Bile is a fluid the body produces to digest fats and eliminate toxins through the body. It’s one of the keys to maintaining digestive health.
One of TUDCA’s best understood effects is its role on bile acid quantity and quality.
- It dissolves bile sludge (cholestasis)
- Lowers the risk of gallstones
- Boosts bile flow up to 500%
- Improves bile quality
At the same time, TUDCA improves the integrity of bile ducts and promotes phase III liver detoxification.
Optimizing bile flow also helps maintain a healthy balance within the intestinal microbiota. Which, in turn, influences everything from immune function to mental health.
Digestion, gut health, & nutrient absorption
The body requires tons of vitamins, minerals, and nutrients to work properly. While it can synthesize some nutrients, a subset called “essential” nutrients must come from diet.
The issue? In order for your body to actually be able to use those nutrients, first you must digest, and absorb them.
Many people today struggle with impaired gut health—issues like acid reflux, digestive discomfort, “leaky gut”, poor absorption, or gallbladder removal surgery—leading to nutrient deficiencies.
Despite how perfect their food choices are.
You absolutely need plenty of bile salts to digest and absorb:
- Dietary fat
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin D
- Vitamin E
- Vitamin K
- Omega-3 fatty acid
- Omega-6 fatty acid
By enhancing bile flow, it promotes healthy digestion & absorption of dietary fats. It also makes it so that bile is more effective at digestion.
If you suffer from acid reflux, TUDCA can help undo damage to the stomach lining caused by bile reflux.
This supplement can also reduce intestinal permeability—key to immune system health and keeping inflammation at bay.
Cardiovascular & cholesterol support
Along with mortality risk, high cholesterol and cardiovascular issues are among today’s chief medical complaints.
TUDCA treatment is proving to be a powerful ally to manage cholesterol levels and support cardiovascular health.
Especially for those with the APOE4 genetic variant that predisposes to serious complications later in life [R].
This substance beneficially changes the way you metabolize cholesterol.
TUDCA also improves clearance of cholesterol from the body. People often report remarkable improvements to LDL and total cholesterol levels
TUDCA has also been shown to help against atherosclerosis, stroke, and other cardiovascular issues.
The heart health benefits are believed to come from its ability to reduce cellular (ER) stress, improve blood vessel health, and promote mitochondrial function [R].
The heart’s high energy demands and dense mitochondrial concentration make it particularly receptive to TUDCA’s effects on mitochondrial health and reducing cellular stress.
This makes TUDCA a valuable addition for naturally lowering cholesterol and supporting heart health.
Insulin sensitivity & blood sugar
Insulin is one of your body’s most important survival hormones. Even small changes can trigger dramatic cascading effects.
It’s one of the core targets of metabolic health. With poor food (mainly) and lifestyle (secondarily) choices, insulin becomes less and less effective. This causes massive issues.
TUDCA, among many supplements, appears to be able to improve insulin sensitivity by up to 30 percent [R].
This also results in better blood sugar control. Which is particularly important for those with metabolic syndrome or diabetes.
Cellular health & anti-aging
The integrity of your cells is vital to your overall health and longevity. Your health is only as good as the status of your cells.
TUDCA supports various aspects of cellular health and anti-aging:
- Acts as a chemical chaperone to reduce endoplasmic reticulum stress (improves protein folding and distribution) [R]
- Improves the efficiency of mitochondria
- Helps the degradation of cellular waste
- Enhances the diversity of the microbiome
It also helps regulate apoptosis (programmed cell death) to support cellular health.
TUDCA further protects against many of the conditions associated with aging.
Of course, TUDCA helps gut function—which plays a massive role in the aging process and is even considered one of the hallmarks of aging.
Vision & retinal health
Your retina helps your brain understand what you see by converting light into electricity. It’s essential to your vision.
TUDCA protects your retina against damage, reduces your risk of eye disease, and improves visual acuity.
Its ability to prevent cell death in retinal cells suggests it may help protect against diseases like macular degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa.
TUDCA also defends against oxidative stress and inflammation—two common factors to many eye issues.
One of TUDCA’s most significant benefits is its role in breaking down and absorbing vitamin A, a nutrient essential for eye health. Deficiency in vitamin A often causes night blindness.
Kidney & gallbladder wellness
The kidney and gallbladder are essential to the body’s detoxification processes and overall well-being.
After its effects on the liver, research suggests TUDCA supports these organs too.
For the kidneys, TUDCA helps reduce toxic buildup and supports natural filtration processes.
This helps protect the kidneys from damage and maintains their function.
The gallbladder also benefits from TUDCA. Improved bile flow minimizes the formation of gallstones and, over the longer term, reduces gallbladder disease risk.
Immunity
The immune system is another unsung organ with a profound impact on overall human health. Its function extends well beyond fighting pathogens.
From helping build muscle and vital tissues, to determining fat loss, to hormone regulation, to metabolic control, and more.
TUDCA works by making the digestive system into an environment where bad bacteria struggle to survive Share on XIt’s a strong ally in defending your body against harmful pathogens.
In your digestive system, TUDCA helps balance the good and bad bacteria. Reducing the chances of you getting sick.
This supplement also appears to slightly modulate immune responses too.
Energy, thyroid, & mitochondria health
Every organ system in the body requires ample cellular energy to function. Without enough, the organs slow down and don’t work as efficiently. Or the cells die off entirely.
Components within cells called mitochondria are responsible for generating that energy.
TUDCA appears to improve the function of mitochondria by reducing the amount of waste (think, cellular trash) produced during the energy generation process.
By restoring energy generation/metabolism, the body works more efficiently.
Plus, this supplement appears to also improve levels of the body’s energy thermostat hormone called thyroid. Many people today have underactive thyroids, and thus feel sluggish as a result.
Blood labs rarely show the functional impact of low thyroid activity.
TUDCA improves the conversion of inactive thyroid (T4) into active thyroid (T3) for the body to use. This also increases energy expenditure and thus weight loss.
While TUDCA doesn’t mimic caffeine, it may provide a subtle energizing effect.
Natural detoxification
Every year, humans introduce tens of thousands of new chemicals into the environment. None of which have been studied in conjunction.
Everyone, anywhere on Earth, gets exposed to them daily. Many Americans are exposed to hundreds of chemicals every morning before even leaving the house.
Throughout history, the liver, kidneys, and other organs automatically and constantly acted like filters to detox these chemicals for us.
These days, however, our livers lack the necessary nutrients to perform their functions. At the same time, we’re exposed to an exponentially increasing toxic burden.
The result? Inefficient cellular communication, poor health, and eventual disease.
Detox is no longer just some fad. Leading experts advise undergoing an annual cellular detoxification protocol.
TUDCA ensures your liver works efficiently at removing toxins from your body.
At the same time, protecting organs against the toxin-induced damage.
Neuroprotection & nervous system health
The brain is extremely sensitive to stimulus, so it has a protective barrier to limit what enters.
Few things can pass through this barrier into the brain. TUDCA can.
This unique ability positions TUDCA as a promising aid to protect cognitive function (especially memory) and combat neurological issues (more on that later).
By acting as chemical chaperones, TUDCA supports proper folding and function of proteins within the brain—maintaining healthy brain cells and connections.
In models of neurological diseases, scientific evidence on TUDCA shows strong protection against [R]:
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Huntington’s disease
- ALS
- Parkinson’s disease
It also protects the nervous system and nerve function post-stroke [R]. Cardiac and respiratory problems associated with seizures improve too [R].
At the same time, TUDCA appears to help specialized brain cells involved in creating new neurons.
By reducing inflammation in glial cells, TUDCA enhances their efficiency, contributing to potential cognitive benefits [R].
Improving cognitive function isn’t just about prevention; it’s also about enhancing quality of life.
TUDCA supports brain health in ways that lead to clearer thinking, better memory, and overall improved cognitive performance.
You might not suspect a bile acid to exhibit neuroprotective effects, but TUDCA shows promise here.
Weight loss
TUDCA is not some magical fat burning weight loss supplement. I would not use it solely to improve weight loss. But it can certainly aid weight management.
TUDCA supports weight loss in several ways [R]:
- Improving metabolism & metabolic flexibility [R]
- Enhanced glucose & insulin control [R, R]
- Controlling appetite via increased GLP-1 release
- Boosting active thyroid hormone levels
- Better intestinal barrier function and gut microbiota [R]
Animal research indicates that TUDCA help reduce excessive body fat and liver fat. Particularly in those with liver issues (as is common with obesity). It also helps protect against cardiovascular issues in obesity [R].
With better insulin sensitivity, the ability to switch between sugar and fat burning, elevated satiety-inducing GLP-1, and calorie-burning thyroid hormone—TUDCA shows different mechanisms of supporting fat loss.
Bodybuilding & muscle protection
Bodybuilders were early adopters of TUDCA, particularly as a liver-protecting and detoxifying supplement in post-steroid cycle therapy (PCT) protocols.
TUDCA is a solid choice for anyone using many supplements since they’re often contaminated with heavy metals and other dangerous substances Share on XNot only does it have some slight muscle and recovery benefits, but it also protects the body against one of the most common dangers of bodybuilding—abuse of anabolic steroids.
Athletically, TUDCA supports muscle health by balancing inflammation and muscle damage and stabilizing cellular integrity.
It helps you recover faster from workouts and maintain muscle strength as you age.
The Best TUDCA Supplements in 2025 Reviewed
Unlike many of the top biohacking supplements, for most people, TUDCA isn’t essential.
I generally recommend optimizing the basics such as adequate vitamins, essential amino acids, minerals, and trace minerals before adding TUDCA.
TUDCA supplements are much less common, so hunting down high-quality brands and products is harder.
The main factors I consider when evaluating TUDCA products include:
- Company reputation
- Active ingredient dose
- Product stability/freshness
- Potential unhealthy additives
- Value
Now, I’ll break down the top TUDCA supplements for every goal, use, and budget.
When you’re on the hunt for the top TUDCA supplements, quality and purity should be your north star.
We’ve done the legwork and found the best on the market to support your health journey.
Each product stands out for its commitment to delivering TUDCA in forms that cater to different preferences, including capsules, powders, and more.
Let’s dive into what makes each one unique.
BodyBio Tauroursodeoxycholic Acid
Since 1998, BodyBio has been known as one of the first supplement companies to prioritize cellular health optimization.
Their Tauroursodeoxycholic Acid (TUDCA) product is no exception containing the active ingredient you’d expect but with no fillers, binders, excipients, flow agents, or other unhealthy additives.
This is also the exact TUDCA recommended by Dr. Mark Hyman and other doctors.
Plus, BodyBio takes extra caution to ensure all products arrive fresh (non-oxidized and non-heated). So it’ll work just as it should.
Each capsule contains a standard 250mg of TUDCA , and you can save up to 15% by subscribing to auto-shipments.
Use code BodyBio code URBAN to save 15%
LVLUP Health TUDCA
LVLUP Health supplements stand out as naturopathic founder Kyal van der Leest comes up with some of the best, state-of-the-art formulations you can get.
He’s a wealth of knowledge on not only the top ingredients, but how they synergize together for maximum results.
Check out my conversation with him about oral peptides and biosynergistic health formulas.
LVLUP Health offers two distinct TUDCA products:
- Double Strength
- Liver Support (added taurine)
Double Strength is as the name implies, twice as much TUDCA per capsule. Making it one of the strongest products I’ve found.
If you’re sensitive to the potential gut-irritating effects of high-dose TUDCA, their complex formula is a better option. It contains 250mg of TUDCA and 200mg of taurine, uniquely benefiting the liver as well.
With either option, you save $10 by subscribing to autoship.
Since their shipping is currently expensive, you’ll either want to stock up for free shipping or add some of their other industry-leading supplement formulations onto your order.
My favorites are their Neuro Re-Generate for brain health, Ready Up as a pre-workout, and Total Recomp appetite suppressor/fat burner.
LVLUP Health is one of my favorite supplement companies because everything they produce is best-in-class and highly effective.
Use the exclusive LVLUP Health code URBAN for 10% off
Bulk Supplements TUDCA Capsules
Bulk Supplements is one of the best options for balancing effectiveness and price. That’s exactly what you get with their TUDCA capsules.
Each pill contains a whopping 500mg of TUDCA. If you have a sensitive stomach, you’ll want to choose a different product with a lower dose.
Generally, budget supplement brands use fillers and excipients to drive down the price of their product. This one’s an exception, showing nothing but pure TUDCA in each pill.
The pricing structure of their product, however, is quite strange. It’s basically the same price to buy 2 x 60 capsule bottles (120 capsules total) than to buy 1 x 90 capsule bottle.
Bulk Supplements TUDCA Capsules are a no-frills product that still gives solid value.
Use Bulk Supplements discount code SAVE5 for 5% off
Double Wood TUDCA
One of the newer affordable supplement mega-stores, Double Wood’s TUDCA product is a rapidly growing option.
The main thing going for this product is the reputable brand name. They’ve become known as one of the top suppliers of TUDCA and offer significant discounts when you order through their website.
The product itself is simple and straightforward. 250mg of TUDCA per capsule, 60 capsules per container.
The capsule itself is gelatin so it’s not vegan or vegetarian-friendly. They also add a filler called “vegetable stearate” which I’m not a fan of.
Don’t be fooled by the total price: each capsule contains 250mg of TUDCA, and they recommend a serving size of two capsules, bringing the cost to over $0.80 per serving
Double Wood TUDCA capsules are among the highest-rated and best selling TUDCA products online, but comes at a slight premium.
Bulk Supplements TUDCA Powder
If you’re seeking maximum dosage control or value, advanced, and with an iron stomach that doesn’t mind the most horrendous tastes possible, look no further.
Bulk Supplements TUDCA Powder delivers exactly that.
For most people, I wouldn’t even consider TUDCA powder. But if you’re accustomed to this or quite brave, Bulk Supplements powdered TUDCA is a good choice.
I’ve personally used powdered forms of hundreds of supplements, and TUDCA tastes among the worst.
I first bought Bulk Supplements TUDCA Powder because it allowed me to precisely tailor my dosage for my experiments, mix the powder into my other drinks, and get the cheapest cost per gram.
It’s quite bitter, but surprisingly doesn’t smell nearly as horrid as TUDCA usually does. The taste does linger, as expected.
Only consider Bulk Supplements TUDCA Powder if you can stomach intensely bitter tastes that linger, want precise control over dosage, or the cheapest price per gram.
Use Bulk Supplements discount code SAVE5 for 5% off
TUDCA Supplements I Don’t Recommend
I’ve tried a number of TUDCA products that I will not use again. Others, I wouldn’t use because great alternatives exist.
Many of them are underdosed and cut with starch and other unnecessary fillers. Some are prohibitively expensive.
Others don’t disclose the exact contents of their formula, hiding dosages behind “proprietary blends” while others are only available to medical professionals.
Here are a few of the popular products I avoid:
| Company 🏛️ | Product 📦 | Reasons 📝 |
|---|---|---|
| CellCore | Advanced TUDCA | Low dosage, proprietary blend, unhealthy fillers, expensive |
| Dr. Berg | TUDCA | Expensive serving cost, magnesium stearate as filler |
| Liftmode | TUDCA Sodium Powder | More than 3X the cost of other TUDCA powders |
| Nutricost | TUDCA Capsules | Added fillers, oxidized oils, mediocre price |
I have no problem with these brands although I personally wouldn’t buy these products when plenty of other high-quality alternatives exist.
Your Practical Guide to TUDCA Supplementation
If TUDCA sounds like an ideal supplement for your situation, you’ll want to know a few key things before starting.
Key considerations include:
- Choosing the right supplement
- Finding your ideal dosage & timing
- Potential stacks
I also recommend consulting with a healthcare professional before trying any supplements.
Let’s dig in.
Choosing the right TUDCA supplement
Tauroursodeoxycholic acid supplements are virtually always synthetically derived. It has an incredibly powerful and unpleasant taste, so I generally recommend capsules over powders.
Only buy from reputable brands to minimize the likelihood of toxic contaminants and maximize the potential benefits.
When picking products, look for products that clearly state their TUDCA content. High-quality supplements usually provide detailed information about their manufacturing processes and third-party testing.
If you’re new to this ingredient, you’ll want to start with something low-dose (more on that next) and likely only TUDCA by itself.
Stronger, multi-ingredient formulas are great and what I personally use, but you first want to know how your body reacts to this substance and dose.
Dosing TUDCA
Experts generally recommend dosing TUDCA between 500mg – 1,500mg per day. If you take the upper end, split that into multiple doses throughout the day (with meals).
If you’re new to TUDCA, start with a dosage of 250-500mg per day. This range is generally considered safe and effective for promoting liver function and supporting cellular health.
Ideally, take it with meals to enhance absorption and reduce GI stress.
As you become more familiar with how tauroursodeoxycholic acid affects your body, you may want to alter your dosage to target particular benefits and use cases:
- General use: 250-2,000mg
- Liver health and regeneration: 500-1,500mg
- Insulin sensitivity and metabolic health: 1,000-1,500mg
- Neuroprotection: 250-1,500mg
- Eye health: 250-1,500mg
- Digestive health and bile flow: 500-1,500mg
Do NOT use TUDCA immediately before drinking alcohol as it can worsen alcohol-induced liver dysfunction.
Potential TUDCA stacks for max benefits
Biohackers often stack TUDCA with other ingredients to enhance the overall benefits or amplify particular use cases.
This is more advanced and only smart if you’re quite familiar with how tauroursodeoxycholic acid works in your body.
Some of the top supplements to stack include:
- TUDCA + Milk Thistle: powerful liver protection combo that supports the liver through different mechanisms
- TUDCA + Taurine: liver protection complex that also significantly improve mitochondrial function, cardiovascular health, and can enhance sleep
- TUDCA + N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC): anti-aging stack which boosts levels of endogenous antioxidants like glutathione—can also add glycine for further benefit
- TUDCA + Phosphatidylcholine (PC): great cellular membrane and health complex, even better if you add astaxanthin
- TUDA + Bitters + Coffee Enema: optimize your bile flow with these three potent stimulators. Coffee enema is an optional add-on
Tauroursodeoxycholic acid is quite versatile. You have tons of other options to combine it with.
My favorite and the ultimate overall stack would be TUDCA + Taurine + Astaxanthin + Phosphatidylcholine.
TUDCA Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Before considering TUDCA supplementation, you might have some other questions.
If I miss anything, drop a comment at the end of this article and let me know! I personally respond to every comment.
Is TUDCA safe for long-term use?
TUDCA has an excellent safety profile, including for long-term use. This is partly because TUDCA is a natural component found in human/animal bile—making it a substance that the body recognizes and handles well.
As with any supplement for long-term usage, make sure you avoid contaminants or unwanted ingredients, such as fillers or additives.
TUDCA vs. other liver support supplements
TUDCA has specific actions on the liver and bile flow, making it unique and highly synergistic with other liver health supplements. Plus, its benefits extend beyond liver health to areas like neuroprotection, cellular health, cardiovascular improvements, and more.
Worth stacking with TUDCA for liver health purposes are two powerful substances. One called dihydromycretin and also astaxanthin supplements.
Can TUDCA reverse fatty liver?
Research suggests TUDCA can reverse fatty liver by reducing endoplasmic reticulum stress and inflammation, improving insulin sensitivity, and aiding in the clearance of fat out of the liver.
How much TUDCA can you take?
The dosage of TUDCA in clinical trials ranges dramatically, usually ranging from 250mg-1,500mg per day but some models suggest dosages of 2,000mg are safe too. Experts generally recommend splitting doses greater than 500mg into two or more doses per day (ideally, with food).
Side effects of TUDCA
Research shows that TUDCA doesn’t have serious side effects when dosed responsibly. Common side effects include diarrhea, upset stomach, nausea, or gastrointestinal discomfort. These symptoms typically resolve on their own, but you can reduce or eliminate them by lowering your dosage or taking TUDCA with food.
Upgrading Your Health with TUDCA
TUDCA is a fascinating bile acid supplement that’s starting to gain widespread adoption.
It’s not just for liver, gallbladder, kidney, eye, brain, cardiovascular, and gut health—but for overall systemic benefit.
TUDCA doubles as a digestive aid—boosting dietary fat absorption and unlocking greater bioavailability of vitamins A, D, E, and K. It shows tremendous promise in helping those suffering with all kinds of conditions too.
Since liver health is highly correlated with overall health and longevity, I’ve been experimenting with different dosages of tauroursodeoxycholic acid. It seems to work, as my recent blood labs look great.
If you’ve tried TUDCA, I’d love to hear your experience. Drop a comment below and let me know.
And if you found this article interesting, please send it to a friend or share it on social media. That’s how I know what kind of research to bring to you. Thanks!
