Uridine
Overview
Uridine is a pyrimidine nucleoside. This page is for uridine itself. Uridine monophosphate (UMP) is the phosphorylated form used in the oral gerbil studies, and mixtures that also contain DHA or choline are combination exposures. Endogenous nucleotide synthesis and salvage also contribute CTP, so uridine is a precursor source rather than an indispensable dietary requirement.
Uridine can be converted into CTP, which helps form the CDP-choline used to build phosphatidylcholine [1]. Oral UMP raised brain CDP-choline in gerbils [2]. Giving uridine together with DHA increased synaptic proteins and phospholipids in gerbil brain [3]. UMP alone did not significantly increase hippocampal spine density. No ordinary-food dose, increased human phosphatidylcholine flux, or cognitive benefit is established [1,2].
Dietary Origin
The precursor role is biochemical: uridine can enter nucleotide metabolism that supplies CTP for CDP-choline [1]. The structural and phospholipid results used oral UMP, or uridine given with DHA, in gerbils [2,3]. Those are not servings of food, and UMP is not the same exposure as free uridine. No food page here has a measured uridine amount, so none is linked as a contains relationship.
Research Spotlights & Evidence Checks
Recipes
Foods
Biological Regulatory Systems
| Biological Regulatory System | Evidence-qualified relationship | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Neurotransmitter Regulation (BRS1) | Uridine can supply CTP for CDP-choline and phosphatidylcholine, a membrane-precursor route in synaptic structural plasticity. UMP alone did not significantly increase gerbil spine density. | [1,2,3] |
| Methylation & One-Carbon Metabolism (BRS2) | Uridine can feed CTP and then CDP-choline in phosphatidylcholine formation. Endogenous synthesis and salvage also supply CTP. | [1,2] |
References
[1] Ulus et al. (2006). Cytidine and Uridine Increase Striatal CDP-Choline Levels Without Decreasing Acetylcholine Synthesis or Release. Shows that cytidine or uridine can raise CDP-choline in the tested preparations without lowering acetylcholine synthesis or release. Precursor biochemistry, not an ordinary-food dose.
[2] Cansev et al. (2005). Oral uridine-5-monophosphate (UMP) increases brain CDP-choline levels in gerbils. Oral UMP, the phosphorylated form, raised brain CDP-choline in gerbils. UMP alone did not significantly increase spine density.
[3] Wurtman et al. (2006). Synaptic proteins and phospholipids are increased in gerbil brain by administering uridine plus docosahexaenoic acid orally. The phospholipid and synaptic-protein increase is a uridine-plus-DHA combination in gerbils, not uridine alone and not a human cognitive result.