We have touched on what Nucleotides are and why they are important to us. The next element is where we get Nucleotides from.

Let’s break it down.

We Make Some Ourselves

Your body can synthesize nucleotides on its own using raw materials like amino acids and glucose. This process is called de novo synthesis, and it happens mostly in the liver.

However, this process is:

• Energy-intensive
• Slow under stress or illness
• Not always enough during rapid growth or repair

We Get Them From Food

Certain foods are naturally rich in nucleotides. These include:

• Organ meats (like liver and kidney) – the most concentrated sources
• Seafood, especially shellfish
• Bone broths and meat stocks
• Fermented foods (like miso and yeast extract)
• Mushrooms
• Legumes and nuts (in smaller amounts)

These are called exogenous nucleotides — ones you consume through diet. They’re absorbed in the small intestine and made available to your cells.

They’re Naturally Found in Breast Milk

Breast milk contains a healthy dose of nucleotides — which is no accident. They’re crucial for an infant’s:

• Immune system development
• Intestinal health
• Growth and repair of rapidly dividing cells

This is part of why formulas often have added nucleotides today — to mimic the natural composition of breast milk.

Supplements Exist for Extra Support

In times of high physical or mental demand, recovery, illness, or immune suppression, your body might need more nucleotides than it can produce or extract from food. That’s where nucleotide supplements come in.

These can help with:

• Cell repair
• Immune support
• Recovery from illness or stress
• Gut lining regeneration

So, Do You Need More?

Most healthy people can make do with dietary sources and internal production. But during times of stress, healing, or growth, your nucleotide demand can outpace your supply — and strategic supplementation may offer real benefits.