Tetradecylthioacetic Acid

Potential Tetradecylthioacetic Acid Benefits

• Promotes fat loss [1-4]
• Improves cholesterol levels [5-12]
• Improves cardiovascular health [13-21]
• Improves blood sugar levels [2] [22-23]
• Fights inflammation [24-28]
• Prevents bone loss [29]
• Fights cancer [30-32]
• Offers Anti-oxidative Effects [33-34]

What is Tetradecylthioacetic Acid?

Tetradecylthioacetic acid is an omega-3 fatty acid with fat-burning properties. While your body cannot use it as a source of energy, it can help regulate the amount of fat that your body can store by affecting genes associated with metabolism. In addition, tetradecylthioacetic acid is also known to improve your overall health through its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer properties. Tetradecylthioacetic acid can be taken in the form of supplements.

How Tetradecylthioacetic Acid Works?

Tetradecylthioacetic acid protects the body from excess fat by activating peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPAR-α). This in turn removes fat from the blood and allows them to be burnt for energy. Tetradecylthioacetic acid’s ability to clear fat from the blood also decreases the levels of bad cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein) and blood pressure.

Chemical Structure of Tetradecylthioacetic Acid

Research on Tetradecylthioacetic Acid

Promotes Fat Loss

A number of convincing studies support the fat-burning properties of tetradecylthioacetic acid:

1. In rats fed on high-fat diets, dietary supplementation of tetradecylthioacetic acid increased feed intake but reduced body weight gain and fat tissue sizes. [1]
2. In Wistar rats fed with a high-fat diet, tetradecylthioacetic acid administration completely prevented diet-induced weight gain. [2]
3. In rats, the administration of tetradecylthioacetic acid enhanced fatty acid metabolism. [3]
4. In growing silver foxes, tetradecylthioacetic acid reduced body weight gain. [4]

Improves Cholesterol Levels

Studies suggest that the ability of tetradecylthioacetic acid to regulate body fat storage has a positive effect on cholesterol levels:

1. In mice fed with a high-fat diet, tetradecylthioacetic acid increased the uptake and transport of fatty acids and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (good cholesterol) in the small intestine. [5]
2. In cholesterol-fed hamsters, tetradecylthioacetic acid decreased the levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. [6]
3. In rats, tetradecylthioacetic acid significantly reduced cholesterol levels by increasing cholesterol synthesis. [7]
4. A study found that prolonged supplementation of tetradecylthioacetic acid in rats reduced low-density lipoprotein cholesterol via increased fatty acid oxidation. [8]
5. In male patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, tetradecylthioacetic acid attenuated abnormal cholesterol levels via activation of PPAR-alpha/delta and increased fatty acid oxidation within the cells. [9]
6. In HIV-infected patients on highly active antiretroviral therapy, tetradecylthioacetic acid administration at a dose of 1 g four times a day significantly reduced total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglycerides. [10]
7. In rats fed with a high carbohydrate diet, tetradecylthioacetic acid reduced blood cholesterol levels significantly. [11]
8. A rat study found that tetradecylthioacetic acid reduced the synthesis and secretion of lipids and cholesterol. [12]

Improves Cardiovascular Health

Evidence found that tetradecylthioacetic acid’s fat-burning and cholesterol-lowering properties can help improve heart function and protect against cardiovascular disease:

1. Studies found that tetradecylthioacetic acid can help improve heart health through its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. [13-14]
2. In rats, tetradecylthioacetic acid improved the heart’s left ventricular function by increasing n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) levels. [15]
3. In animal models of heart failure, tetradecylthioacetic acid improved heart muscle function. [16]
4. In an animal model of heart and skeletal muscle inflammation, tetradecylthioacetic acid induced heart regeneration via recruitment of immune cells. [17-19]
5. In mini pigs with heart dysfunction, tetradecylthioacetic acid reduced the narrowing of the heart arteries. [20]
6. In salmons, tetradecylthioacetic acid enhanced energy production in salmon hearts by stimulation of FA oxidation. [21]

Improves Blood Sugar Levels

Tetradecylthioacetic acid has also been found to be beneficial in reducing abnormally high blood sugar levels:

1. In patients with type 2 diabetes, tetradecylthioacetic acid improved blood sugar metabolism. [22]
2. In male Wistar rats, tetradecylthioacetic acid increased blood sugar metabolism in the liver and reduced the plasma insulin/glucose ratio. [23]
3. In Wistar rats fed with a high-fat diet, tetradecylthioacetic acid administration completely prevented diet-induced insulin resistance. [2]

Fights Inflammation

A good deal of evidence also supports the anti-inflammatory properties of tetradecylthioacetic acid:

1. In a mouse model of chronic inflammation, tetradecylthioacetic acid reduced the blood levels of triacylglycerol, a substance that activates inflammation. [24]
2. In Atlantic salmon cells, tetradecylthioacetic acid suppressed inflammatory status. [25]
3. In psoriasis patients, the administration of 1000 mg tetradecylthioacetic acid daily for 28 days decreased the blood levels of inflammatory substances such as TNF-α, IL-8, and VCAM-1. [26]
4. A study reported that tetradecylthioacetic acid exerts its anti-inflammatory effects by reducing cytokine and reactive oxygen species production, and enhancing nitric oxide levels. [27]
5. A study on heart cells found that tetradecylthioacetic acid reduced the anti-inflammatory fatty acid index. [28]

Prevents Bone Loss

Evidence suggests that tetradecylthioacetic acid can help prevent bone loss due to surgical removal of the ovaries.

In one study, researchers explored the skeletal effects of tetradecylthioacetic acid in rats. [29] A group of rats had surgical removal of the ovaries to induce bone loss while another group of rats did not. Both groups then received oral tetradecylthioacetic acid daily for 4 months. The researchers then examined the bone mineral density and content of the subjects. Results showed that tetradecylthioacetic acid-treated rats maintained the normal bone mineral density of the femur (thigh bone) while the other group had a significant increase in bone mineral density.

Fights Cancer

There is also evidence supporting the anti-cancer properties of tetradecylthioacetic acid:

1. In human leukemia cells, the administration of tetradecylthioacetic acid 1000 mg/day for 7 consecutive days inhibited the growth of cancer cells. [30]
2. A cell study also found that tetradecylthioacetic acid prevented the growth and multiplication of human SW620 colon cancer cells. [31]
3. In mice, dietary tetradecylthioacetic acid produced inhibitory effects on colon cancer growth. [32]

Offers Anti-oxidative Effects

Tetradecylthioacetic acid’s antioxidant properties can help reduce oxidative stress and harmful free radicals in the body:

1. A study showed that tetradecylthioacetic acid and tetradecylselenoacetic acid exerted their antioxidant capacity via interaction with copper or iron ions. [33]
2. In rats, tetradecylthioacetic acid reduced colonic oxidative damage and the levels of the pro-inflammatory substance known as cytokines. [34]

Associated Side Effects of Tetradecylthioacetic acid

Tetradecylthioacetic acid side effects are very uncommon. There have been some side effects associated with the use of this drug wherein the patient had one of the issues listed below at some point while being on tetradecylthioacetic acid. However, these side effects weren’t confirmed to be associated with the treatment and could have been a coincidence and not related to the use of tetradecylthioacetic acid. Despite this, it was listed as a side effect associated with tetradecylthioacetic acid even though these associated side effects are very uncommon.

Side effects associated with tetradecylthioacetic acid may include the following:

• Cramps
• Headaches

References

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20. Pettersen RJ, Muna ZA, Kuiper KK, Svendsen E, Müller F, Aukrust P, Berge RK, Nordrehaug JE. Sustained retention of tetradecylthioacetic acid after local delivery reduces angioplasty-induced coronary stenosis in the minipig. Cardiovasc Res. 2001 Nov;52(2):306-13. doi: 10.1016/s0008-6363(01)00404-7. PMID: 11684079.
21. Arge R, Dessen JE, Østbye TK, Ruyter B, Thomassen MS, Rørvik KA. Effects of tetradecylthioacetic acid (TTA) treatment on lipid metabolism in salmon hearts-in vitro and in vivo studies. Fish Physiol Biochem. 2018 Apr;44(2):703-716. doi: 10.1007/s10695-018-0466-4. Epub 2018 Jan 19. PMID: 29349633.
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30. Tronstad KJ, Bruserud Ø, Berge K, Berge RK. Antiproliferative effects of a non-beta-oxidizable fatty acid, tetradecylthioacetic acid, in native human acute myelogenous leukemia blast cultures. Leukemia. 2002 Nov;16(11):2292-301. doi: 10.1038/sj.leu.2402698. PMID: 12399975.
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34. Bjørndal B, Grimstad T, Cacabelos D, Nylund K, Aasprong OG, Omdal R, Portero-Otin M, Pamplona R, Lied GA, Hausken T, Berge RK. Tetradecylthioacetic acid attenuates inflammation and has antioxidative potential during experimental colitis in rats. Dig Dis Sci. 2013 Jan;58(1):97-106. doi: 10.1007/s10620-012-2321-2. Epub 2012 Aug 2. PMID: 22855292.