Glycoursodeoxycholic Acid Unit Converter

Glycoursodeoxycholic acid (GUDCA) is a conjugated bile acid formed when ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) is linked to the amino acid glycine. It is one of the hydrophilic (water-soluble) bile acids, making it less toxic to cells than many other bile acid species.

Bile acids are steroid molecules that help the body digest and absorb dietary fats. They circulate between the liver, gallbladder, and intestine in a loop called enterohepatic circulation. GUDCA is typically present in small amounts in the blood and makes up a minor fraction of the total bile acid pool.

A serum bile acid profile measures individual bile acid species, including GUDCA, to help evaluate liver and biliary tract health. It is commonly measured alongside other conjugated bile acids such as glycocholic acid, glycochenodeoxycholic acid, and taurine-conjugated species.

GUDCA is formed in the liver, where ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) is conjugated with glycine before being secreted into bile. UDCA itself is a secondary bile acid produced when gut bacteria convert the primary bile acid chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) through a process called 7-alpha/beta-dehydrogenation.