Have you heard of TUDCA yet? Over the years, this bile acid has garnered attention for its ability to protect cells and reduce inflammation. At the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre (TFMC), this supplement can be added to your treatment plan to support liver and brain cell functions.

Bile acid is produced in the liver and is needed for optimizing digestion, to help absorb key nutrients, and remove contaminants from the body. Tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA) is a bile acid derivative naturally produced in the liver. It’s a hydrophilic bile acid, which means it attracts water and dissolves in it. Unlike other bile acids, TUDCA has a cytoprotective effect and can help shield cells from damage. Additional research is essential to further explore its role in managing health conditions.

So, what are the pros of taking TUDCA supplements? And how can you tell if it’s suitable for your health goals? The TFMC explains in this blog post. 

About TUDCA and its beneficial effects

Though this supplement is new to us, it’s been embraced for centuries by Traditional Chinese medicine herbalists. In fact, the latest research on TUDCA emphasizes how it may “… play a role as an epigenetic modulator and act as therapeutic agent in certain types of cancer,” confirms an article from Cells. Here are some more things to know about TUDCA’s beneficial effects: 

• • Functional medicine patients may consider this supplement for: improving eye, gut, and cellular health; preventing heart disease; lowering inflammation; enhancing the absorption of nutrients and for promoting detoxifying effects; supporting hepatoprotective functions; and for fostering insulin sensitivity. 
  • It’s related to ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), another type of bile acid used by herbalists as a liver tonic. 
  • TUDCA enhances your bile flow, which may contribute to alleviating the symptoms of bile duct obstruction, thereby enhancing liver function.
  • Studies have shown that its supplementation may recover liver enzyme levels and reduce liver fat accumulation, which makes it suitable for patients struggling with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). 
  • It may aid in the management of neurodegenerative disorders, such as these: 
    • Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS): A phase II clinical trial found that TUDCA – when combined with a class of medications called riluzole – effectively slowed down ALS progression compared to using riluzole alone. 
    • Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Diseases: Protein misfolding is when the functioning of a protein is impaired because of its warped shape. TUDCA prevents protein misfolding, which is a hallmark of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. By reducing oxidative stress and supporting mitochondrial function, TUDCA may support overall brain health.
  • According to findings, it may be valuable for addressing retinal degeneration. TUDCA may protect retinal cells from apoptosis (cellular death), which could potentially help treat degenerative eye diseases.
  • Patients with autoimmune conditions may want to ask their functional medicine doctors about taking TUDCA. Research suggests it could assist with modulating immune activity, which can lower inflammation levels in autoimmune disorders.

Is this supplement right for you?

If you’re interested in trying TUDCA, our clinic offers functional medicine consultations to see if new treatment options are suitable for you. 

TUDCA supplements are available at your local health store, but there are times when it may be incompatible with certain medications. 

• • A few  broad-spectrum antibiotics
  • Insulin analogs or insulin sensitizing agents
  • Bile acid sequestrants

TUDCA is also not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding individuals. With that, please book a session with one of our functional medicine practitioners to make sure you can safely consume this supplement. Depending on your medical history, current symptoms, and other individual factors, our lab services may be used to quantify biomarkers related to your cellular health, gut health, hormone imbalances, and more. Experience our comprehensive care and take control of your health today!

Suggested reading: What Are Food Sensitivities? A Functional Medicine Toronto Info Sheet

About our clinical care

Personalized integrative medicine services can rev your body towards optimal wellness – this is what we aim to provide our patients with at the TFMC.

Our functional medicine providers have extensive experience adapting treatment options for a wide variety of health concerns. Tailored treatments may be constructive for managing chronic symptoms, especially those linked to autoimmune diseases, menopause and andropause (hormonal imbalances), various digestive issues (i.e. irritable bowel syndrome), and immune function. We focus on integrated health care, which amalgamates treatment modalities to help boost the chances for symptom relief. From conventional treatment methods and naturopathic medicine to Traditional Chinese Medicine, IV therapy, and psychotherapy, we offer comprehensive care that acknowledges your individuality. 

During your initial consult, you can share your health goals, lifestyle/environmental factors, and medical history with us. You can get to know us, too! To start, here are some quick facts about the TFMC:  

• • Consultations to patients can be conducted in-person or virtually. (Click here to learn about our virtual consultations.)
  • We abide by the integrative functional medicine model, which is a paradigm that focuses on an individualized approach to health. 
  • Education to patients is always available! We provide ample time to discuss your personal condition, why certain complementary/natural therapies have been recommended, and how to read the results of your lab tests. 

Shift towards a healthy lifestyle with our complementary and holistic medicine services. Integrated health care may be beneficial for alleviating fatigue, digestive concerns and concentration issues – simply send a message to the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre to request your first appointment.

Disclaimer: The information in this article is designed for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for informed medical advice or care. This information should not be used to diagnose or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting a doctor. You should always consult with a health care practitioner before relying on any information in this article or on this website. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified healthcare provider because of information you have read from the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre website or other affiliate media. 

References

Achufusi TGO, Safadi AO, Mahabadi N. Ursodeoxycholic Acid. [Updated 2023 Feb 12]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK545303/

Gregersen N, Bross P, Vang S, Christensen JH. Protein misfolding and human disease. Annu Rev Genomics Hum Genet. 2006;7:103-24. doi: 10.1146/annurev.genom.7.080505.115737. PMID: 16722804.

Khalaf, K., Tornese, P., Cocco, A. et al. Tauroursodeoxycholic acid: a potential therapeutic tool in neurodegenerative diseases. Transl Neurodegener 11, 33 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40035-022-00307-z

Kusaczuk, M. (2019). Tauroursodeoxycholate—Bile Acid with Chaperoning Activity: Molecular and Cellular Effects and Therapeutic Perspectives. Cells, 8(12), 1471. https://doi.org/10.3390/cells8121471

Ladakis DC, Harrison KL, Smith MD, Solem K, Gadani S, Jank L, Hwang S, Farhadi F, Dewey BE, Fitzgerald KC, Sotirchos ES, Saidha S, Calabresi PA, Bhargava P. Bile acid metabolites predict multiple sclerosis progression and supplementation is safe in progressive disease. medRxiv [Preprint]. 2024 Jan 23:2024.01.17.24301393. doi: 10.1101/2024.01.17.24301393. Update in: Med. 2024 Oct 23:100522. doi: 10.1016/j.medj.2024.09.011. PMID: 38293182; PMCID: PMC10827276.

Lax, P., & Cuenca, N. (2022). Neuroprotective Effects of Tauroursodeoxicholic Acid Involves Vascular and Glial Changes in Retinitis Pigmentosa Model. Frontiers in Neuroanatomy, 16, 858073. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnana.2022.858073

Mantopoulos, D., Murakami, Y., Comander, J., Thanos, A., Roh, M., Miller, J. W., & Vavvas, D. G. (2011). Tauroursodeoxycholic Acid (TUDCA) Protects Photoreceptors from Cell Death after Experimental Retinal Detachment. PLoS ONE, 6(9), e24245. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0024245

Sweeney, P., Park, H., Baumann, M. et al. Protein misfolding in neurodegenerative diseases: implications and strategies. Transl Neurodegener 6, 6 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40035-017-0077-5

Vang, S., Longley, K., Steer, C. J., & Low, W. C. (2014). The Unexpected Uses of Urso- and Tauroursodeoxycholic Acid in the Treatment of Non-liver Diseases. Global Advances in Health and Medicine, 3(3), 58. https://doi.org/10.7453/gahmj.2014.017

Wang DQ, Carey MC. Therapeutic uses of animal biles in traditional Chinese medicine: an ethnopharmacological, biophysical chemical and medicinal review. World J Gastroenterol. 2014 Aug 7;20(29):9952-75. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i29.9952. PMID: 25110425; PMCID: PMC4123376.

Zangerolamo, L., Vettorazzi, J. F., Rosa, L. R., Carneiro, E. M., & Barbosa, H. C. (2021). The bile acid TUDCA and neurodegenerative disorders: An overview. Life Sciences, 272, 119252. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lfs.2021.119252