Uridine is a nucleoside (a component of the nucleic acids DNA and RNA) that is found ubiquitously in nature. Uridine is produced in our own bodies and serves many critical roles in the brain. It is commonly supplemented for its unique benefits to brain function, which include constructing new neuronal structures and long-term upregulation of dopamine.
Uridine is not considered to be an essential nutrient since it is produced in our own bodies, however when supplemented it is able to easily cross the blood-brain barrier and confer additional benefits12https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1138930. Therefore, it is of considerable interest in the nootropics and medical community alike.
Supplementation has been shown to increase neurite outgrowth by 182+/- 25% and 221+/- 34%18https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16055952 and increase the number of dendtric spines and hippoocampal neurons13https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21091953. Supplementation has also demonstrated improvements in learning and memory1https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S10747427030002482https://www.fasebj.org/doi/abs/10.1096/fj.08-112425, which includes increased spatial short term memory, recognition, recall, attention, and executive functions17https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22432687.
Many of the memory and learning improvements from uridine likely come from its ability to raise acetylcholine levels through indirect processes in the brain3https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1852434/?tool=pubmed. Additionally, uridine supplementation has also been shown to stimulate ATP release8https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/15654852/.
One of the most promising features of uridine is its ability to upregulate dopamine release over the long-term. It accomplishes this by repairing dopamine functionality and preventing overstimulation5https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/83720967https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/009130579500169W21https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/20504471/. It’s been shown to enhance potassium-invoked dopamine release, with one study showing that average dopamine levels were increased by 20.5%18https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16055952 after 1 and 6 weeks of supplementation.
Uridine has also been shown to improve mood 4https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1570534919https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3080753/22https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18540779, which is likely due to the enhanced dopamine release.
Where to Buy Uridine
Buy Uridine Capsules at Pure Nootropics
Uridine Dosage Information
It is recommended to start out with about 150-250mg of UMP per day, and slowly work your way up as you determine the optimal dose for yourself. Uridine should be taken sublingually (under the tongue) for maximal absorption
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Uridine + Choline + Fish Oil + B-Complex
Another very promising feature of uridine is its ability to enhance cellular function and construct new synapses between the neurons, which is called synaptogenesis.
Numerous studies have demonstrated that the combination of uridine, choline, and fish oil (specifically DHA) can significantly increase synaptogenesis in the brain9https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1863199410https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1926295011https://www.karger.com/Article/Abstract/19339414https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1940069815https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1663114316https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4011061/, with a net effect that is stronger than all 3 ingredients individually.
References
1. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1074742703000248
2. https://www.fasebj.org/doi/abs/10.1096/fj.08-112425
3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1852434/?tool=pubmed
4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15705349
5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8372096
6. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/205a04471/
7. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/009130579500169W
8. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/15654852/
9. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18631994
10. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19262950
11. https://www.karger.com/Article/Abstract/193394
12. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1138930
13. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21091953
14. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19400698
15. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16631143
16. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4011061/
17. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22432687
18. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16055952
19. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3080753/
20. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18540779
21. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/20504471/
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