Sodium Tauroursidexycholate
Sodium Tauroursidexycholate, also known as Tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA), is a bile acid that is naturally produced by the body. It is a taurine conjugate of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), a secondary bile acid produced only by intestinal bacteria. TUDCA is more polar than UDCA, making it better absorbed by the intestine and liver. TUDCA has been found to have chaperoning activity, which allows it to alleviate or resolve ER stress, playing a role as a chemical chaperone.
Benefits of Sodium Tauroursidexycholate:
TUDCA has been studied for its ameliorating effects on inflammatory metabolic diseases, including atherosclerosis, diabetes, and renal disease. It has also been shown to be a potential therapeutic tool in neurodegenerative diseases. In a pilot study, UDCA (of which TUDCA is a derivative) was administered to 18 patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and it was found that UDCA was safe and well-tolerated.
Case Studies:
- In a pilot study, UDCA was administered to 18 ALS patients randomly assigned to receive 15, 30 or 50 mg/kg UDCA daily for 4 weeks. UDCA was found to be safe and well-tolerated.
- TUDCA has been found to have potential therapeutic effects in neurodegenerative diseases.
The recommended dosage of TUDCA varies depending on the intended use. When looking at improving bile salt composition, a dose around 15-20mg/kg bodyweight TUDCA seems best according to one study. Benefits have been seen at 1,750mg daily for muscle and liver insulin sensitivity, which is the highest dose used for treatment of fatty liver disease. Adverse effects of TUDCA are generally mild, but may include gastrointestinal issues.
Sources:
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4030606/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6952947/
- https://translationalneurodegeneration.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40035-022-00307-z
- https://examine.com/supplements/tudca/
- https://go.drugbank.com/drugs/DB08834
- https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/nejmoa1916945
