Limited evidenceBrain & cognition

Uridine Monophosphate

A nucleotide sold as a synapse-building nootropic. Human work shows it raises brain phospholipid precursors, but no controlled trial has shown that uridine alone improves memory in healthy people.

Evidence last reviewed: August 2026

What the science says

Raises brain membrane precursors Limited evidence
A phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy study in healthy adults found that short-term uridine administration increased brain phospholipid precursor levels. This is a biochemical marker, not a cognitive outcome.
Memory in mild Alzheimer's disease, in combination Moderate evidence
A randomized controlled trial of a medical food combining uridine monophosphate with DHA, EPA, choline, B vitamins and antioxidants reported improved delayed verbal recall in drug-naive patients with mild Alzheimer's disease. The effect belongs to the full combination; uridine's individual contribution was not isolated, and later trials in prodromal disease were less clear.
Mood in bipolar disorder Limited evidence
A 6-week open-label study in seven depressed adolescents with bipolar disorder reported reduced depression scores with uridine. With no control group and seven participants, this is preliminary at best.

Dosage & safety

Studied doseSupplement labels typically give 150–500 mg/day of uridine monophosphate. Human studies used higher amounts (roughly 500–2,000 mg/day), and the Alzheimer's medical food supplied 625 mg/day within a fixed combination.

SafetyShort-term studies report few side effects beyond mild gastrointestinal upset and headache. Long-term safety in healthy adults is unstudied. Uridine can interfere with fluorouracil-based chemotherapy and should be avoided by anyone on those drugs. Not established in pregnancy or childhood.

Scientific references

Short-term administration of uridine increases brain membrane phospholipid precursors in healthy adults: a 31-phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy study at 4T
Agarwal N, Sung YH, Jensen JE — Bipolar Disord, 2010
Efficacy of Souvenaid in mild Alzheimer's disease: results from a randomized, controlled trial
Scheltens P, Twisk JW, Blesa R — J Alzheimers Dis, 2012
Open-label uridine for treatment of depressed adolescents with bipolar disorder
Kondo DG, Sung YH, Hellem TL — J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol, 2011

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