Dietary nucleotides and healthy ageing: biological rationale and current evidence

Background The ageing process is one of the most challenging biological pathways to comprehend, being a fundamental part of the life cycle. It is a natural, progressive, dynamic, and universal physiological process shaped by genetic and environmental factors, which has composite features linked by molecular, cellular, physiological, and functional elements. Aim Searching for evidence on exogenous nucleotides as conditionally essential nutrients for the activation of the immune system, cell proliferation, balanced microbiome, endurance, and lifespan. Nucleotides are considered secure and vital to counteract oxidative stress and inflammatory conditions plausibly decelerating biological ageing. Dietary nucleotide supplementation is now emerging as potential, but still unconfirmed, key strategy targeting human ageing hallmarks to delay cellular ageing and mitigate disease risk, presumably promoting health and longevity. The role of some edible fungi, yeasts and mushrooms, as main suppliers of nucleosides/tides is illustrated. Concluding remarks Further research on nucleotides is needed to understand the regulation of nucleotide biosynthesis, and the impact of dietary nucleotides on functions supporting immunity, digestive tract regeneration, and exercise endurance, in the intersections between metabolism, cell growth control, and ageing.