By Shellie L. Rosen, Ph.D., Dipl. O.M. (NCCAOM)®, DOM, L.Ac.
As spring approaches, consider detoxifying the liver and gallbladder through the body’s drainage pathways with TUDCA (tauroursodeoxycholic acid). Similar to ox bile, TUDCA is a bile salt. Traditional Chinese medicine has used animal bile for liver and gallbladder health for centuries. TUDCA is synthetically made by adding a taurine bond to a bile acid called UDCA (ursodeoxycholic acid), making the product clean and easy to source.
Bile acids aid in detoxification by facilitating the transfer of toxins from the liver to the stool and out of the body. The liver binds the collected toxins in bile and secretes this mixture for storage in the gallbladder between meals. This alkaline bile in the gallbladder then mixes with the highly acidic food released from the stomach. Combining alkaline and acidic substances breaks down food into digestible nutrients. If stomach acid is low or bile secretion is inhibited, digestion cannot function properly, hindering the absorption of nutrients. Moreover, toxins cannot exit the body and are reabsorbed.
Bile acids are crucial in breaking down dietary fats for absorption in the small intestine. Proper fat metabolism aids in regulating glucose levels. Additionally, bile is vital for digesting fat-soluble vitamins, enabling the body to absorb vitamins A, D, E, and K. Moreover, bile acids are essential for maintaining the balance of gut bacteria by managing harmful bacteria. Healthy gut bacteria then convert bile salts into more bile acids. When there is not enough bile to break down cholesterol, congestion and gallstones occur. An unhealthy diet can cause bile acids to thicken, obstructing their flow from the gallbladder.
If your gallbladder is damaged or surgically removed, or if you are experiencing gastrointestinal bacterial overgrowth, you may encounter bile issues and could benefit from taking TUDCA after meals. Acidic foods must be neutralized by bile in the duodenum; otherwise, the gut will push the acidic material through the intestines (causing diarrhea) to protect itself. Take TUDCA one to two hours after eating to allow time for food to pass through the stomach acids first. Start with 250 mg per day, and increase as needed.
Proper digestion and detoxification of the liver and gallbladder require that food be acidified in the stomach to interact with alkaline secretions in the duodenum. If you experience symptoms like acid reflux, constipation, and bloating, you may have low stomach acid. Consider supplementation to help restore this balance. Low bile production or congestion issues can result in yellowing of the eyes and skin, fatty liver, nausea after eating, light-colored or loose stools, dark urine, fatigue, and signs of nutrient and vitamin deficiencies. TUDCA may be a potential option to help restore health with digestion.
The journal Frontiers in Neuroscience reported last year that TUDCA “has been shown to have therapeutic effects in various neurodegenerative diseases,” including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Huntington’s diseases. The regulation of cell turnover, metabolic syndromes, inflammation, oxidative stress, and the reduction of brain-damaging plaques are just a few of the mechanisms for which TUDCA is praised. TUDCA is also being researched for the treatment of retinal diseases like macular degeneration, with promising results. Abundant blessings on your exploration with TUDCA.
