How much do you know about nucleotides? Did you know that they are routinely supplemented into infant formula? They are also used in young animal diets as an alternative to antibiotic growth promoters for over two decades. More recently adult humans have been able to benefit from food supplements based on nucleotide formulas. Much of the development and science in this branch of nutrition has been pioneered by Swiss biochemist-immunologist, Dr Peter Koeppel. He has been particularly instrumental in developing a nutritionally balanced nucleotide formula, Nutri-tide®, based on purified nucleotides extracted by sustainable yeast sources.
The rapidly expanding range of clinical health and sports research, supporting nucleotide supplementation, will feature in Nucleotide Nutrition’s next blog.
What are nucleotides?
Nucleotides are the key structural nutrients (components) that form the basis of our genetic material, namely DNA and RNA, found in every cell in the body. This is why nucleotides are often referred to as the ‘building blocks of life’
In its most familiar form, in DNA’s double helix structure, pairs of nucleotides are loosely bonded together to form the ‘steps’ of the DNA ‘spiral staircase’.
New cells form, as old cells die. The DNA in an ageing cell ‘unzips’ itself lengthwise, and these two strands go on to form two new cells. Specific nucleotides sourced from the body’s nucleotide pools pair up with the newly exposed nucleotides to create two identical DNA strands.
The huge and relentless demand for nucleotides
The body has a huge demand for the five different nucleotides that are required to build DNA and RNA molecules. In just one strand of human DNA there are 3.2 billion nucleotides. The biggest demand for nucleotides is by the fast replicating cells of the immune system and gut lining (cells here last less than 6 days).
Without a balanced pool of all five nucleotides, stockpiled and ready-for-use, cellular replication would be delayed or put on hold until the required nucleotide is either produced by the body (de novo), salvaged from dying cells, or made available from dietary means i.e. food.
Dietary deficiencies in the modern Western diet
Historically humans have eaten cuts of meat that have high levels of nucleotides in the tissues, such as the liver and brain, in other words, the offal. Now the consumption of foods with the highest nucleotide concentration is in decline. Offal foods, such as tripe and liver, are no longer popular and are the best example of this decline. This table shows an analysis the DEFRA survey showing levels of nucleotides in foods and their popularity rank between 1974 and 2014.
Thanks to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) who surveyed 150,000 households from 1974 to 2014, we can establish that liver and other offal have experienced a 92% and 87% decrease in quantity purchased. The rise of the ready meal and takeaways could have had an additional effect on the dietary intake of nucleotides. In 1974, the quantities of both respectively were, 27g and 16g per person, both less than the 36g of liver. But in 2014 these had risen to 163g and 50g, a 503% and 213% increase respectively.
The evolution of human eating habits, especially over the last century and in western countries, indicated by DEFRA’s study, has affected the quantities in the nucleotide pool. Under ideal conditions the de novo and salvaging pathways are considered to meet the demands for nucleotides sufficiently (Carver & Walker, 1995). When the body is undergoing high levels of rapid growth or requires an increase in DNA and RNA synthesis, for example, supplies of nucleotides could be depleted. Under these circumstances, nucleotides could be referred to as conditionally essential, as opposed to non-essential (Van Buren & Rudolph, 1997).
What’s on your plate!
Scientists and nutritionists have known for a couple of decades that nucleotides are essential for new born babies. Indeed, mother’s milk contains high levels of nucleotides, which is why all formula milk is supplemented with nucleotides. Further independent research alongside the clinical research conducted with Nucleotide Nutrition’s food supplements has helped to expose that for some adults there is a real need for supplementary nucleotides to support their health.
You will be able to find out all about the science of nucleotides and the research behind nucleotide supplementation on Nucleotide Nutrition Ltd’s stand at camexpo. Nucleotide Nutrition’s supplement range is based on the nutritionally balanced nucleotide formula, Nutri-tide®, pioneered by Dr Peter Koeppel.
The next blog will be all about the impact of stress on our need for nucleotides.
Written by Rachel Hoyle, Nucleotide Nutrition (stand 1922a)
camexpo returns to Olympia, London, on 24-25 September 2016. To register your ticket, please visit www.camexpo.co.uk/register-to-visit-camexpo-2016 – and quote priority code CAMX524.
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