Nucleotides are micro nutrients that form the foundation of the body's RNA and DNA. Nucleotides are found in some form in every cell in your body; your overall health relies on the intake of nucleotides from food.

Nucleotides are critical for achieving optimal immune function and are also important for the maintenance of gut health. Evidence from humans studies has shown nucleotides modulate immune function at all stages of life, play a key role in the renewal and proliferation of intestinal cells, reduce exercise-induced stress responses and may also have ergogenic effects.

Nucleotides exist in all living organisms. In fact, every cell in your body contains them – over a billion per cell. Nucleotides are important for many biological functions, including their role as the building blocks of DNA and RNA. The body has an on-going demand for new cell production. Adults must create new cells at a rate at least sufficient to replace the cells that die. To do this the cell and its DNA divides to form two new cells. This cell proliferation is a lengthy and complicated process, dependant on energy and the supply of all five specific nucleotide building blocks to build the DNA and the RNA molecules in the new cells.

Whilst the body can make nucleotides itself or salvage them from dying cells, certain types of cells require supplementary nucleotides provided in a person’s diet. Beyond breast milk, nucleotides are typically found in foods which are far less common in the modern diet. Meals containing tripe, liver and kidneys provide high levels of nucleotides but typically, these are not foods which are consumed today and especially not for vegetarians and vegans. Unlike some vitamins and minerals, nucleotides are not yet considered essential nutrients for humans but poor diet, stress, chronic illness and the excessive use of antibiotics and alcohol all increase the body’s need for nucleotides in order to facilitate regular and effective cell proliferation.