Uridine is a component of RNA that may improve brain function, relieve depression and nerve pain, and protect the heart. Research reveals it might strengthen and restructure your brain synapses, enhancing learning and memory. Read on to discover its benefits, side effects, and science-based stacks.

What Is Uridine?

You’ve heard of DNA, the tiny double helix that encodes all of your genes, but have you heard of its sibling molecule, RNA? Where DNA stores your genetic information, RNA (which is short for ribonucleic acid) translates it into proteins.

As another difference, RNA uses a ribonucleotide called uridine (the nucleotide uracil bound to a ribose sugar) to translate the DNA code [1, 2].

Besides its role in RNA, uridine helps the body break down sugar for energy. It plays a big role in brain and cognitive function [3, 4].

In adults, the liver creates uridine in the form of uridine monophosphate (UMP) and secretes it into the blood. Uridine can also exist as uridine triphosphate or uridine-5′-monophosphate [5, 6].

Snapshot

Proponents

• May enhance cognitive function
• May reduce nerve pain
• May protect the mitochondria
• May improve the symptoms of lung diseases
• May help with depression and bipolar disorder
• May improve sleep quality

Skeptics

• Insufficient evidence for all benefits
• Unknown long-term benefits and safety profile
• Not recommended for those with cancer, fibrosis, diabetes, or osteoporosis

Benefits of Uridine

Insufficient Evidence for:

1) Learning & Memory

The brain uses uridine to create CDP-choline, a well-known memory enhancer, and other brain phospholipids. In a study of 17 healthy volunteers who underwent brain imaging, uridine supplements increased their brain levels of phosphoethanolamine (PEtn), an important phospholipid building block [7].

Uridine creates the right environment for increased neuronal plasticity and synapse formation, which may help the brain adapt, learn, remember, and regrow [8, 9].

In cell and animal studies, uridine increased neurite outgrowth, a process that helps brain cells grow and regenerate [8, 9].

In the same studies, uridine also increased synaptic proteins, small molecules found in the cleft or synapse that brain cells use to communicate. When these proteins drop, synapses get destroyed. Only later do brain cells die and memory problems arise, as in Alzheimer’s