Oral administration of uridylic acid increases plasma leptin, but suppresses glucose and non-esterified fatty acid concentrations in rats.

Nucleic acids have been known to have biological effects on the digestive and immune systems, although less attention has been paid to the action on metabolism. In the present study, in order to investigate the effects of oral ingestion of uridylic acid (5'-uridine monophosphate, 5'-UMP) on hormonal and metabolic levels, we measured changes in the plasma concentrations of leptin, insulin, glucose, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), weights of the liver and abdominal fat and fat accumulation in the liver and M. gastrocnemius in male rats.