Evidence Level
Emerging
Uridine research is primarily preclinical but compelling. Wurtman et al. (2009) at MIT demonstrated that uridine + DHA + choline synergistically increase synaptic membrane synthesis and dendritic spine density in rodent models. Cansev et al. (2008) showed uridine increases striatal dopamine and upregulates dopamine receptors. The Kennedy pathway through which uridine supports membrane synthesis is well-characterized biochemistry. Human clinical data is limited, though some psychiatrists report benefits for bipolar depression (Jensen et al., 2008 open-label pilot). The compound is well-positioned for future clinical trials.