taurocholic acid

Taurocholic acid is a naturally occurring bile acid formed by the conjugation of cholic acid with taurine. It is a major component of bile in many mammals and plays an essential role in the emulsification and absorption of dietary fats and fat-soluble vitamins in the intestine. Taurocholic acid acts as a detergent to solubilize lipids for digestion and absorption. Pharmacologically, it has been investigated as an agonist of GPBAR1 (also known as TGR5), a G protein-coupled bile acid receptor involved in glucose metabolism and energy homeostasis. Taurocholic acid has been studied for potential therapeutic use in metabolic diseases such as obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus; however, clinical development for these indications was discontinued.