EDITORIAL - METABOLIC SUPPLEMENTATION WITH OROTIC-ACID AND MAGNESIUM OROTATE

Orotic acid (OA), a naturally occurring substance, is a key intermedia te in the biosynthetic pathway of pyrimidines. Previous investigations in the heart suggest that orotate can protect recently infarcted hear ts against a further ischemic stress and may be beneficial in certain types of experimental cardiomyopathy. At the Hamburg symposium on magn esium orotate, a number of studies of this form of metabolic supplemen tation were presented that indicate erotic acid and its magnesium salt have a modest beneficial effect on the myocardium under conditions of stress ranging from myocardial infarction to severe physical exercise . The following conclusions can be drawn: (1) Orotic acid can improve the energy status of the recently infarcted myocardium (rat hearts). ( 2) Orotic acid may improve myocardial purine and pyrimidine levels by stimulating hepatic release of uridine into the bloodstream, which in turn augments depleted myocardial pyrimidines and purines (rat heart). (3) Orotic acid improves the tolerance of the recently infarcted hear t to global ischemia (rats). (4) Magnesium orotate may reduce the seve rity of chronic myocardial dysfunction and structural damage in cardio myopathy (cardiomyopathic hamsters). (5) Magnesium orotate may improve exercise tolerance in patients with coronary artery disease and in tr ained athletes (humans). (6) Magnesium orotate has only a weak inotrop ic effect, if any, on normal hearts (rats). (7) Further clinical testi ng is indicated to determine if the effects described could be of sign ificant clinical benefit in the treatment of heart disease.