Glucuronic acid

SpecialtyUronic acidBest with a meal

What is it

Glucuronic acid is a six-carbon sugar acid produced naturally in the liver from glucose. It is central to the body's phase II detoxification system, where it conjugates drugs, hormones, and toxins for excretion.

Evidence for 1 use

AI-assisted evidence assessment — talk to your doctor before relying on any single supplement.

Liver / detoxification support

Mixed Evidence

The body synthesizes glucuronic acid; no high-quality evidence shows that oral supplementation enhances glucuronidation in healthy adults.

How it works

In the body, UDP-glucuronic acid is the donor in glucuronidation, a major liver detox pathway that adds a glucuronide group to lipophilic molecules to make them water-soluble for urinary or biliary excretion. The body synthesizes ample amounts; exogenous glucuronic acid is not a documented rate-limiting nutrient. In supplements, glucuronic acid is sometimes included for theoretical 'liver support', and as a structural component of glycosaminoglycans (joint and connective tissue).

Dosage

There is no RDA. DSLD does not provide a median dose for this entry. Supplemental doses, when listed, are typically a few hundred milligrams.

When and how to take it

No established timing baseline. Take with food to limit GI upset.

1 commercial form

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D-glucuronic acid

Supplement form is uncommon; often listed in 'detox' formulas.

Absorbed as a sugar acid; systemic conversion to UDP-glucuronic acid is the rate-limiting step in vivo.

Safety

Generally regarded as safe at low supplemental amounts. Direct human supplementation studies are minimal. Mild GI upset is possible.

Who should be cautious

Pregnancy and breastfeeding: insufficient data on supplemental use; food-equivalent intake is likely fine.

Interactions

No significant interactions reported.

Food sources

Kombucha (small amounts)

Amount
varies
%DV
—

Frequently asked questions

Does taking glucuronic acid help detox the liver?⌄

Healthy adults synthesize their own glucuronic acid. There is no strong evidence supplements meaningfully enhance liver detoxification.

Is it the same as glucosamine?⌄

No. They are different molecules, though both are involved in glycosaminoglycan structures.

References

Glucuronic acid on Wikidata — Wikidata link

Glucuronic acid (ChEBI:47953) — ChEBI link

Glucuronic acid (PubChem CID 65041) — PubChem link

Glucuronic acid on NIH DSLD (US supplement label database) — NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database link

Research on Glucuronic acid (PubMed search) — PubMed link

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Evidence-based·How we grade evidence

Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This page is educational, not a substitute for personalized medical advice. Evidence grades are AI-assisted assessments — talk to your doctor before starting any new supplement, especially if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, on medications, or managing a chronic condition.