Quasi vitamins: Orotic acid Domina Petric, MD

Introduction Orotic acid was isolated in the late 1940s from distillers’ dried solubles and was called, for a while, vitamin B13. It is a substituted pyrimidine (1,2,3,6- tetrahydro-2,6-dioxo-4-pyrimidinecarboxylic acid). 3.12.2018 Combs GF. The Vitamins. Fundamental Aspects in Nutrition and Health. Elsevier Inc. 2008.

Human milk lacks orotic acid. Dietary sources Orotic acid is found in root vegetables (beets, carrots) and is associated with the whey fraction of milk. Human milk lacks orotic acid. 3.12.2018 Combs GF. The Vitamins. Fundamental Aspects in Nutrition and Health. Elsevier Inc. 2008.

Metabolic functions Orotic acid is biosynthesized from N-carbamylphosphate by dehydration (via dihydroorotase), which is oxidized (via orotate reductase) to orotate. It is an important intermediate in the biosynthesis of pyrimidines. 3.12.2018 Combs GF. The Vitamins. Fundamental Aspects in Nutrition and Health. Elsevier Inc. 2008.

Health effects Orotic acid might have hypocholesterolemic effect: inhibition of hepatic cholesterol synthesis at the level of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase. Studies have found magnesium orotate to improve ventricular function and exercise tolerance in cardiac patients (probably due to treatment of magnesium depletion). 3.12.2018 Combs GF. The Vitamins. Fundamental Aspects in Nutrition and Health. Elsevier Inc. 2008.

Health effects Orotic acid has been used therapeutically for neonatal jaundice, hyperproteinemia, gout and degenerative retinal disease. 3.12.2018 Combs GF. The Vitamins. Fundamental Aspects in Nutrition and Health. Elsevier Inc. 2008.

Literature Combs GF. The Vitamins. Fundamental Aspects in Nutrition and Health. Elsevier Inc. 2008. 3.12.2018