1. Quasi vitamins: Orotic acid
Domina Petric, MD

2. 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).
Combs GF. The Vitamins. Fundamental Aspects in Nutrition and Health. Elsevier Inc

3. 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.
Combs GF. The Vitamins. Fundamental Aspects in Nutrition and Health. Elsevier Inc

4. 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.
Combs GF. The Vitamins. Fundamental Aspects in Nutrition and Health. Elsevier Inc

5. 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).
Combs GF. The Vitamins. Fundamental Aspects in Nutrition and Health. Elsevier Inc

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

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