Uridine benefit and review and natural medicine information by
Ray Sahelian, M.D.
April 10 2016
Cytidine and uridine can stimulate brain phosphatide synthesis. MIT brain researchers are working on a combination of dietary supplements that may be helpful in mind enhancement or the treatment of age related mental decline. The MIT research suggests that a cocktail treatment of omega-3 fatty acids, uridine and choline are all needed by brain neurons to make phospholipids, the primary component of cell membranes. After adding those supplements to the diets of gerbils, the researchers observed a dramatic increase in the amount of membranes that form brain cell synapses, where messages between cells are relayed. Damage in brain synapses is believed to cause the dementia that characterizes Alzheimer's disease. Mind Power Rx is a formula for better mental focus and concentration.
Definition of Uridine - a molecule known as a nucleoside formed when uracil is attached to a ribose ring. If uracil is attached to a deoxyribose ring, it is known as a deoxyuridine.
Liver role
PLoS One. Jan 24 2014. Uridine prevents fenofibrate-induced Fatty liver.
Uridine, a pyrimidine nucleoside, can modulate liver lipid metabolism although
its specific acting targets have not been identified. Using mice with
fenofibrate-induced fatty liver as a model system, the effects of uridine on
liver lipid metabolism are examined. At a daily dosage of 400 mg/kg, fenofibrate
treatment causes reduction of liver NAD(+)/NADH ratio, induces hyper-acetylation
of peroxisomal bifunctional enzyme (ECHD) and acyl-CoA oxidase 1 (ACOX1), and
induces excessive accumulation of long chain fatty acids (LCFA) and very long
chain fatty acids (VLCFA). Uridine co-administration at a daily dosage of 400
mg/kg raises NAD(+)/NADH ratio, inhibits fenofibrate-induced hyper-acetylation
of ECHD, ACOX1, and reduces accumulation of LCFA and VLCFA. Our data indicates a
therapeutic potential for uridine co-administration to prevent fenofibrate-induced
fatty liver.
Uridine Research
Neural Plast. 2016. A Dietary Treatment Improves Cerebral Blood Flow and Brain
Connectivity in Aging apoE4 Mice. APOE ε4 (apoE4) polymorphism is the main
genetic determinant of sporadic Alzheimer's disease (AD). A dietary approach (Fortasyn)
including docosahexaenoic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid, uridine, choline,
phospholipids, folic acid, vitamins B12, B6, C, and E, and selenium has been
proposed for dietary management of AD.
Cytidine and Uridine Increase Striatal CDP-Choline Levels Without Decreasing
Acetylcholine Synthesis or Release.
Cell Mol Neurobiol. 2006.
Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology, Uludag University Medical
School, Bursa, Turkey.
Treatments that increase acetylcholine release from brain slices decrease the synthesis of phosphatidylcholine by, and its levels in, the slices. We examined whether adding cytidine or uridine to the slice medium, which increases the utilization of choline to form phospholipids, also decreases acetylcholine levels and release. These data show that cytidine and uridine can stimulate brain phosphatide synthesis without diminishing acetylcholine synthesis or release.
Synaptic
proteins and phospholipids are increased in gerbil brain by administering
uridine plus docosahexaenoic acid orally.
Brain Res. 2006; Wurtman RJ, Ulus IH, Cansev M, Watkins CJ, Wang L,
Marzloff G.
Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of
Technology, MIT, Cambridge, MA
The synthesis of brain phosphatidylcholine may utilize three circulating
precursors: choline; a pyrimidine (e.g., uridine, converted via UTP to brain CTP);
and a PUFA (e.g., docosahexaenoic acid); phosphatidylethanolamine may utilize
two of these, a pyrimidine and a PUFA. We observe that consuming these
precursors can substantially increase membrane phosphatide and synaptic protein
levels in gerbil brains. Alzheimer's disease brains contain fewer and smaller
synapses and reduced levels of synaptic proteins, membrane phosphatides, choline
and DHA. The three phosphatide precursors might thus be useful in treating this
disease.
Effects of
uridine in models of epileptogenesis and seizures.
Epilepsy Res. 2006; Zhao Q, Marolewski A, Rusche JR, Holmes GL.
Neuroscience Center at Dartmouth, Section of Neurology, Dartmouth Medical
School, Lebanon, New Hampshire
Uridine, a possible endogenous antiepileptic modulator, has been demonstrated to
have anticonvulsant effects in some models of epilepsy. In this study, we
examined possible neuroprotective effects of uridine by administering the agent
following lithium-pilocarpine induced status epilepticus. There was a
trend for reduced EEG spike frequency, improved visual spatial memory and better
histology score in rats receiving uridine. The antiepileptogenic and
anticonvulsant effects of uridine were studied by administering uridine to rats
undergoing rapid kindling or following full kindling. In the rapid kindling
models, uridine had a moderate antiepileptogenic and anticonvulsant effect.
These results suggest uridine may have potential to aid in the prevention and
treatment of epilepsy.
Emails
Q. I am looking for a daily rridine treatment for a patient (20 mo old female
with hereditary Orotic aciduria) , and having difficulties finding a supplier.
Your web site comes up as a source for information. I would appreciate if you
can let me know of a pharmaceutical grade supplier for Uridine.
A. Sorry, we have not looked into sales of uridine or suppliers.
Q. I'm just
wondering uridine is not found in Mind Power Rx formula.
A. There are dozens of effective mind boosting herbs and nutrients.
Mind Power Rx has about a dozen of them. Not every potential mind enhancer can
be included in a formula.
I am a
pharmacist at the Medical University of South Carolina. I am working with a
physician to try and locate a product called Uridin Uridine. We have a patient
who has been on this chronically since childhood for Hereditary Orotic Aciduria.
The patient can no longer find this supplement and has tried to locate something
similar at numerous pharmacies with no luck. They are saying this product has
been discontinued but I cannot even find any information on the discontinuation
of such product. Please contact us if you have any knowledge of a supplement
that contains uridine for human consumption. We are in need of this product as
soon as possible.
If you do a google search there appears to be some companies
that sell Uridine Triacetyluridine 25mg. I am not familiar with Uridin product.