What bile acid, such as deoxycholic acid, is used to reduce submental fat?

From the Research

Bile Acid Used to Reduce Submental Fat

• Deoxycholic acid is a secondary bile acid used to reduce submental fat [(1,2,3,4,5)].
• It is involved in dietary fat emulsification/solubilization and causes adipocyte lysis when injected into subcutaneous fat tissue 1.

Mechanism of Action

• Deoxycholic acid acts as a detergent and rapidly induces necrosis 2.
• It is non-selective for adipocytes and can induce cell death with accompanying inflammation and fibrosis 2.

Clinical Use

• Deoxycholic acid is FDA-approved for the reduction of submental fat [(1,2,3,4)].
• It is used off-label to treat other types of fat deposits, such as lipomas, HIV lipodystrophy, and excess orbital fat 2.
• The typical dose used for submental fat reduction is 2 mg/cm2 1 or 3 mg/cm2 4.

Efficacy and Safety

• Deoxycholic acid injections are effective in reducing submental fat [(1,3,4)].
• The most frequent adverse events are edema, local pain, bruise, and numbness, which usually spontaneously regress 3.
• Complications, including skin necrosis, nerve injury, alopecia, and vascular events, can occur 3.