How it works

Ursodeoxycholic Acid is one of the secondary bile acids, which are metabolic byproducts of intestinal bacteria. It reduces the ratio of cholesterol to bile salts plus phospholipids in bile, causing desaturation of cholesterol saturated bile.  It increases this fraction in a dose related manner, to become the major biliary acid, replacing / displacing toxic concentrations of endogenous hydrophobic bile acids that tend to accumulate in cholestaticliver disease. In addition to the replacement and displacement of toxic bile acids, other mechanisms of action include cytoprotection of the injured bile duct epithelial cells (cholangiocytes) against toxic effects of bile acids, inhibition of apotosis of hepatocytes, immunomodulatory effects, and stimulation of bile secretion by hepatocytes and cholangiocytes.