Constipated or Bloated? Which One You Need (TUDCA vs. Ox Bile)

Name: Constipated or Bloated? Which One You Need (TUDCA vs. Ox Bile)
Uploaded: 2026-08-15T12:00:23.000Z
Duration: 7 min 26 s
Channel: Dr. Eric Berg DC

Dr. Eric Berg DCAugust 15, 20267m

Topics8

Overview of TUDCA vs. Ox Bile0:00 Bile Production and Function0:30 Ox Bile Supplementation2:03 TUDCA Properties and Mechanisms2:31 TUDCA and Hibernation3:31 TUDCA Benefits and Applications4:31 TUDCA for Toxic Bile and Historical Context6:01 TUDCA Dosage Recommendations7:03

In a Nutshell

TUDCA acts systemically as a water-soluble bile acid that protects mitochondria, prevents toxic bile buildup, and supports liver, brain, and insulin function, whereas ox bile remains in the gut to emulsify fats and aid digestion. Use ox bile (200 mg) after meals for fat digestion and fat-soluble nutrient absorption; take TUDCA (250 mg) on an empty stomach to unclog bile ducts, reduce sludge, and improve systemic detoxification.

AI-Generated Notes

These notes were generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies.

TUDCA is an ancient remedy used by the Chinese as early as 659 AD. In fact, to this day, it's prescribed in Japan for liver disease. Yet, you can get it over the counter in America. Bears produce a tremendous amount of TUDCA, whereas humans only produce a very tiny bit.

Bile in general is made by the liver. It travels down a bile duct and gets stored in the gallbladder, where it concentrates the bile by a factor of 7 to 12 times. So, it's super concentrated. And then when you eat, this gallbladder contracts, releases the bile through another duct into the small intestine to help you break down fat. Like dish soap, it breaks it down into very tiny particles.

We need fat-soluble vitamins, vitamin A, D, E, and K. A lot of the phytonutrients in our foods, like lutein for the eyes, lycopene for the prostate, beta-carotene, all are fat-soluble. Curcumin from turmeric is fat-soluble.

Bile is antimicrobial because normally we don't want a lot of microbes in the small intestine. We want them in the large intestine. It also helps you remove excess cholesterol. The inactive and active thyroid hormones also work with bile to help the thyroid work better. GLP-1, which actually controls a lot of the appetite, bile salts help increase GLP-1. So, they actually help make you satisfied.

Bile also removes toxins. Your liver is constantly breaking down poisons and toxins and pesticides and excessive hormones. All of that toxicity that's dealt with by the liver has to come out through the bile pathways.

A lot of people that are deficient in bile take ox bile after a meal because bile is alkaline, your stomach is really acid, so we don't want to alkalize the stomach before you eat. We'd rather have you eat, have the acid break things down, and then follow it up with the bile. The recommendation is taking 200 mg to start out with after a meal.

TUDCA is unique in that it's mainly water-soluble. When you take TUDCA after you eat, it's not going to help you break down the fat. Because TUDCA is water-soluble, it can travel out of the digestive system through your entire body. It can cross the blood-brain barrier. It can have effects on your brain and your neurons. Whereas, the ox bile pretty much stays in the digestive system.

TUDCA is also made by your microbes, but only between 2 to 3, maybe 4%. The best way to understand TUDCA is to understand why a bear produces between 47 to 74% of their bile. And the bears that produce more of it do more hibernating.

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Constipated or Bloated? Which One You Need (TUDCA vs. Ox Bile)

Overview of TUDCA vs. Ox Bile00:00

Bile Production and Function00:30

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