Dietary Sources of Nucleic Acids

Nucleic acids are large, organic molecules that code for important cellular processes. Deoxyribonucleic acid, or DNA, and ribonucleic acid, or RNA, are nucleic acids. Nucleic acids code for protein synthesis and enzymatic action, as well as direct the expression of genetic information and communication among cells. They can be found in all plant and animal cells. Nucleic acids can also be found in supplement form.

Nucleic Acids

• DNA is a key nucleic acid.

  Nucleic acids are polymers of nucleotides--a string of repeating units. Each nucleotide that forms the nucleic acid string is made up of a nitrogenous base--a carbon ring containing nitrogen--a sugar and a phosphate group. The sugar is a five-carbon sugar, or pentose. In RNA this pentose is ribose. In DNA this sugar is deoxyribose--like ribose but without oxygen on the second carbon. There are five bases: adenine, thymine, guanine, cytosine and uracil. These are categorized as purines and pyrimidines. The purine bases are adenine and guanine. The pyrimidine bases are thymine, cytosine and uracil. The difference between purines and pyrimidines is their structure. Purines are a six-membered ring connected to a five-membered ring. Pyrimidines have just a six-membered ring conformation. The bases form matched pairs--each having a specific partner to form double-stranded DNA or RNA. The pairing differs between DNA and RNA. In DNA, the pairs are made up as adenine-thymine and cytosine-guanine. In RNA, uracil replaces thymine to pair with adenine.

Natural Sources

• Nuts are high in nucleic acids.

  You take in nucleic acids every time you eat because they are found in all living cells. Significant natural sources of nucleic acids can be found in nuts and fish. Breast milk also has a high concentration of nucleic acids -- proving the nursing infant with additional building blocks for rapid growth.

Supplements

• DNA and RNA can be found in dietary supplements.

  Nucleic acids are available as a dietary supplement through some natural product vendors. Some vendors claim scientific research supports the use of nucleic acid supplements to improve cellular function and repair. Nucleic acid supplements usually contain DNA and RNA mixed with other proprietary compounds. When nucleic acids are taken in through diet or supplement, they are catalyzed, or broken down, to their component parts. The purine bases are further catalyzed by the kidney and excreted as uric acid. Pyrimidines, however, are not broken down and excreted. They are incorporated into body cells.

Expert Opinion

• Consult your doctor before adding supplements to your diet.

  Experts at the National Academies of Science have stated there is no conclusive evidence to suggest any benefit to nucleic acid supplements for humans. Your body makes nucleic acids. It is not necessary to ingest them--unlike other cellular-building blocks like amino acids. It is important to talk with your health care provider before adding any supplements to your diet. As with all supplements, be sure to identify anything you take so that your doctor can be aware of any interactions that may result.