If you are using any type of brain-boosting supplement, Uridine is a must to add to your regimen.
Not only does this natural compound have a profound benefit for overall health and wellness, it is necessary for a broad range of cognitive operations.
Uridine is one of the building blocks or precursor components to Ribonucleic Acid, or RNA. The process of storing memories in the brain requires large amounts of RNA to facilitate protein translation at your neuronal synapses.
Taking Uridine supplements to increase levels of RNA in the brain has been documented to improve memory formation and retention performance.
Uridine supplement are also highly synergistic with Cholinergic nootropics and works especially well when taken in a stack with a Racetam (such as Piracetam) and a Choline source like Alpha GPC.



- Increases dopamine & choline in the brain
- Supports cognition, memory & mood
- Protects the brain & promotes synapse growth
Uridine Sources
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We get Uridine in foods like Sugarcane, Tomatoes, Broccoli, Beer, Yeast and Liver; this nutrient can also be manufactured in the liver to a degree.
However, supplementing with additional sources for this compound can lead to cognitive enhancement benefits above and beyond what is capable from internal synthesis alone.
According to its chemical structure this supplement is a nucleic acid with a pyrimidine base. Furthermore, it bonds together to an alcohol group of a sugar compound.
Uridine also works very together with other specific types of substances, especially phosphate groups and lipids. There are a number of recent studies which show that this supplement may be effective as an anti-depressant because of how it works in synergy with Choline and a number of other fatty acids.
One Harvard study found that this nootropic was an effective mood enhancer when combined with EPA/DHA Omega 3 supplements. Uridine even helps to form a nucleotide which is thought to be critical in the regulation of metabolism.
When we eat foods or other sources rich in Uridine, this supplement is absorbed intact in the gut, which means that it also has a high degree of bioavailability.
Uridine Effects:
Uridine is a substance that is absorbed from within the liver and capable of crossing the important blood-brain barrier. Along with adenosine, guanosine and cytidine, Uridine is one of the components in RNA which translates instructions from DNA onto proteins.
RNA has an integral role in the formation and encoding of memories via Long-Term Potentiation. In simplified terms, memories are stored in the brain as connections between neurons called synapses. These connections are physical and their development requires significant amounts of protein translation to be directed by RNA.
While RNA levels decrease as we age, using a Uridine supplement can keep these levels higher resulting in better memory function.
Another mechanism of action exhibited by Uritine is the increase in Dopamine production and release in the brain. This is a powerful neurotransmitter that is thought to be responsible for regulating functions such as mood and movement. It is well-known as a ‘feel good’ brain chemical that is involved with the pleasure, arousal and motivation center.
In addition to this, Uridine is also converted to CDP Choline within the brain. This is thought to have the effect of increasing the synthesis of another important neurotransmitter known as Acetylcholine (helps to affect the brain’s synaptic plasticity and working memory).
Uridine also is utilized to synthesize the chemical Phosphatidylcholine within the brain. This chemical is important to the effective operation of cells and the regulation of enzymes in the brain. Evidence also points to this supplement increasing the production of neurites, which are projections from the body of a neuron.
When it is easier for neurites to be formed in your brain, this results in greater plasticity and better learning and adaptation capacity.
Uridine Benefits:
Uridine is shown to lead to a number of beneficial Nootropic effects. Some of these include improving working memory and enhanced fluid intelligence. Supplementation can allow you to write, read, or simply just concentrate on a task at hand with what seems like much less conscious effort. Most of these effects are due to the supplement converting into Choline and then Acetylcholine.
Given the mechanisms of action for Uridine it may not be surprising that many researchers feel it can help to slow down the process of brain aging. As a result, there is even speculation regarding its ability to fight off depression and prevent certain forms of dementia like Alzheimer’s disease. This is likely due to role that Uridine has as a precursor to RNA.
There also many reports of Uridine supplementation leading an increase in mood and overall motivation levels. This can lead to reduced stress, anxiety, and possibly symptoms of obsessive compulsive disorders. There is evidence suggesting that Uridine may be effective in the treatment of depression.
Another interesting effect of this supplement is that it repairs brain membrane fluidity, so scientists think that it might actually improve the health of your brain cells.
Uridine Dosage:
Most experts recommend a daily dose of between 500 mg and 2 grams (2,000 mg) of Uridine powder or tablets.
For those who are interested in obtaining the Nootropic and cognitive benefits of this supplements will probably need somewhere between 1 and 1 ½ grams on a daily basis.
It is also a good idea to combine this with a high quality source of Choline (Alpha GPC, CDP Choline) to maximize your results with this brain supplement.
Uridine Side Effects:
As far as side effects are concerned, Uridine is a very safe and well-tolerated supplement. It can be taken by every healthy adult.
As long as the dosage recommendations are followed, the only side effects that might be present include headaches, fatigue, nervousness, and some gastrointestinal distress. Of course, these are usually very mild and usually the result of taking too large of a dose.
There is also some evidence to suggest that this supplement may lower levels of vitamin B12. The solution to this is to take a B12 and B9 supplement. Other studies have shown that the Omega-3 supplement DHA is synergistic when taken in combination with Uridine.
Uridine Supplements:
Uridine is one of the few nootropics that qualifies as a must-have supplement. It is especially important for older individuals or anyone taking part in an anti-aging regimen.
It contributes to higher levels of RNA in the brain, making it easier to encode information that you have learned into your memory. This appears to be true both for short-term working memory as well as long-term memory consolidation and retrieval. Uridine supplements also have a positive influence on fluid intelligence which is sometimes considered a better predictor of your intellectual capacity than IQ scores.
By working to enhance the healthy function of your brain cells while making your neurons more plastic, Uridine is a multi-faceted brain booster that everyone should use.
- Wurtman RJ, Regan M, Ulus I, Yu L. Effect of oral CDP-choline on plasma choline and uridine levels in humans. Biochem Pharmacol. 2000
- Agarwal N, Sung YH, Jensen JE, daCunha G, Harper D, Olson D, Renshaw PF. Short-term administration of uridine increases brain membrane phospholipid precursors in healthy adults: a 31-phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy study at 4T. Bipolar Disord. 2010
- Cansev M, Watkins CJ, van der Beek EM, Wurtman RJ. Oral uridine-5'-monophosphate (UMP) increases brain CDP-choline levels in gerbils. Brain Res. 2005
Article last updated on: March 17th, 2018 by Nootriment
2 Comments
Uridine is also found in the fascinating medicinal mushroom Cordyceps sinensis, together with adenosine and its derivative ATP, which can enhance vitality and stimulate physical performance and libido.
Unfortunately almost none of the Cordyceps supplements on the market lists the amount of adenosine and / or uridine on their label. The only one I know of is Oriveda Cordyceps; the adenosine percentage is ? 0.5%, the adenosine-triphospate (ATP) percentage is 0.2 % and the uridine percentage is ? 0.4%.
There appears to be a synergy between these consistents; when I use this Oriveda Cordyceps supplement it has IMO a more noteworthy effect than when I use a supplement containing an isolated nucleoside.
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