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Uridine is a nucleoside found in RNA and involved in protein synthesis. It may have potential benefits in treating cancer, HIV drug toxicity, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s, bipolar disorder, and depression. Natural sources include tomatoes, sugar beets, broccoli, meat, molasses, and brewer’s yeast.
Uridine is a naturally occurring substance produced by the liver and classified as a nucleoside, meaning it is a compound containing a nucleic acid with a pyrimidine base that has bonded to the alcohol group of a sugar. Specifically, uridine is a nucleoside of uracil, a primary constituent of ribonucleic acid (RNA), which is involved in protein synthesis in the body. This occurs when uracil forms a bond with ribofuranose, the simple sugar that resides in RNA. This compound is further receptive to the addition of various phosphate groups to form one of three nucleotides, agents involved in regulating metabolism. It can also form deoxyuridine from a bond between uracil and the sugar deoxyribose, but this compound is rarely found naturally in living organisms.
Researchers have found that uridine may have potential benefits in treating a number of medical conditions. For example, several clinical studies involving cancer patients indicate that supplementing with this compound may help offset the toxic effects of chemotherapy. There is also evidence to suggest that this substance may help prevent the cellular damage and liver dysfunction associated with a class of HIV drugs known collectively as AZT. However, it should be noted that most of the tests related to the latter application have been conducted in vitro and not on human subjects.
Other conditions for which therapy with this substance is being considered include the treatment of Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s, bipolar disorder and depression. Indeed, animal studies focusing on the antidepressant effects of supplementing with uridine and omega 3 fatty acids combined have shown promising results comparable to the effectiveness of conventional medications. These studies have prompted at least two US pharmaceutical companies to investigate the future potential of treating these and other disorders with triacetyluridine (TAU), a drug initially dubbed PN401, which converts to uridine in the body.
Additional studies and trials include using uridine in combination with omega 3 fatty acids, cytidine and choline to help prevent age-related dementia. A team of researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has discovered that these nutrients stimulate the production of phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylserine. Although virtually every cell in the body requires these two phospholipids for normal function, they are essential for neurotransmission in the brain. Furthermore, the Turkish scientists further found that supplementation shows these effects without decreasing acetylcholine release, a feature associated with senile dementia.
Natural sources include tomatoes, sugar beets, broccoli, meat, molasses and brewer’s yeast. It is also a component of human breast milk. Unfortunately, with the exception of mother’s milk and yeast, the human body does not readily absorb dietary sources of this substance. Beer lovers might be happy to learn, however, that their favorite beverage raises serum uridine levels, likely due to its yeast content. Attempting to increase available levels of this nutrient by consuming large amounts of beer or yeast can also raise purine levels and increase uric acid production, as well as lead to other health problems associated with alcohol abuse.
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