Deoxycholate for Subcutaneous Fat Reduction: A Review of Current Literature and Potential New Delivery Systems

BACKGROUND Deoxycholate is approved for submental fat reduction due to its ability to lyse cells and reduce fat accumulation, but it is used off-label in aesthetic treatments for subcutaneous fat reduction for several other parts of the body. OBJECTIVE Review the clinical evidence supporting using sodium deoxycholate and delivery systems for aesthetic purposes. MATERIALS AND METHODS This systematic review explores the clinical evidence for sodium deoxycholate's efficacy and safety in fat reduction, exploring the use of delivery systems to mitigate adverse effects. A comprehensive literature search across Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed was executed to prepare this review. RESULTS Clinical studies confirm that subcutaneous deoxycholate injections effectively reduce submental fat, with long-term results suggesting maintained efficacy up to 3 years post-treatment. However, adverse effects are noted, prompting research into novel delivery systems, which include sustained-release liquid crystal formulations and micro/nanoparticle-based systems, promising to reduce side effects while enhancing efficacy. CONCLUSION The findings underscore that deoxycholate is clinically well-established in efficacy and safety, with substantial evidence for treating submental fat. More extensive clinical studies are necessary to establish its safety and effectiveness in larger treatment areas and optimize treatment outcomes using different delivery systems.