Purines - Nature Cures®

Table of Contents

Purines (adenine and guanine) are components of nucleotides, which are the building blocks of DNA and RNA. These are essential for cell growth, division and genetic information transfer.

Uric acid

High levels of the purine byproduct, uric acid, are associated with conditions like arthritis, gout and kidney stones. However, the compounds themselves (or their normal metabolic byproducts) have many health benefits. Alcohol especially beer, and high-fructose corn syrup can increase uric acid production and hinder its removal. Hydration is important as water flushes excess uric acid out through the kidneys.

Health benefits of purines and uric acid

Purines are involved in the production of nitric oxide, which helps maintain a healthy vascular structure and regulates blood pressure.

Uric acid acts as a powerful antioxidant in the bloodstream at normal levels. It can neutralise many free radicals and protect against oxidative stress.

Low levels of uric acid are associated with an increased risk of certain neurological disorders like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases, which means that normal levels of uric acid may have a neuroprotective role.

Natural sources of purines in alphabetical order

Anchovies
Asparagus
Beans
Beef
Brewer’s yeast
Cauliflower
Hawthorn
Lentils
Mushrooms
Oatmeal
Oily fish
Organ meats
Peas
Poultry and game birds
Shellfish (scallops)
Spinach
Venison
Wheat germ
Whole grains

NOTE: Organ meats like liver, oily fish and shellfish are the highest sources of purines.

Detailed analogy of purines

Purines, including adenine (A) and guanine (G), are two of the five bases found in nucleic acids. In DNA, adenine pairs with thymine (T) and guanine pairs with cytosine (C); in RNA, adenine pairs with uracil (U). Each base pairs purines with pyrimidines ensuring a uniform DNA structure. Pyrimidine bases include thymine, cytosine, and uracil, along with minor variants that may have regulatory roles.

The stability of the DNA molecule is maintained by specific base pairing: A-T (or A-U in RNA) forms two hydrogen bonds, while C-G forms three. This precise pairing keeps the double helix stable and consistent. The sequence of these nitrogenous bases encodes instructions for protein synthesis, with triplets specifying amino acids that determine cellular structure and function.

Nucleotides that contain pyrimidine bases are important in metabolism, for example, uridine diphosphate in carbohydrate metabolism and cytidine diphosphate in lecithin metabolism. Pyrimidine bases are synthesised in the cell from derivatives of orotic acid.

Defects in enzymes that control purine production and breakdown can severely alter a cell’s DNA sequences, which may explain why people who carry certain genetic variants of purine metabolic enzymes have a higher risk for some types of cancer.

Other purines are hypoxanthine, xanthine, theobromine, caffeine, uric acid and isoguanine.

Purine, pyrimidine and meteorites

In August 2011, a report, based on NASA studies with meteorites found on Earth, was published suggesting purine and related organic molecules (including the DNA and RNA components, adenine and guanine) may have been formed elsewhere in outer space. Pyrimidine is also found in meteorites, but scientists still do not know its origin. Pyrimidine photolytically decomposes into uracil under UV light.

Related subjects

Join our mailing list to receive your monthly emailed newsletter with all the latest scientific findings for natural health remedies.