Interview: Why Dietary Nucleotides Are the Missing Link in Modern Nutrition
- Nicolas Voëlin
- Oct 29
- 4 min read
Timm, as a former pro athlete, how did your view on nutrition evolve during your football career?
Timm:
When I started out as a young player, I honestly didn’t pay much attention. Nutrition was something the club handled, you passively consumed whatever they gave you. That changed over time, especially during my years in the Bundesliga and even more in the Premier League. The higher the level, the more I began to focus on what I put into my body. Not just food, but also the supplements I took. I started questioning ingredients, looking into science-backed solutions, and became fascinated by innovations beyond the mainstream. That curiosity ultimately led to co-founding NooQ Nutrition and our first product line focused on dietary nucleotides.
Dr. Köppel, what exactly are dietary nucleotides — and why haven’t most people heard of them?
Dr. Köppel:
Nucleotides are best known as the building blocks of DNA and RNA, but they play many other vital roles. They’re involved in energy metabolism (ATP production), immune defense, gut regeneration, and cellular communication. While nucleotides occur naturally in certain foods, most modern diets contain very little, especially when we remove organ meats or fermented products. And under stress, illness, or recovery, the body can’t produce enough on its own. That’s when nucleotides become “conditionally essential” ,meaning your body needs additional support from diet or supplementation.
Timm, what role did nucleotides play in your own health journey?
Timm:
Toward the end of my career, I became more aware that our modern diets no longer provide all the nutrients we truly need. It’s not just about vitamins and minerals. There are other key compounds like nucleotides that are essential for how our cells work. Once I started supplementing with them, I noticed that I felt more balanced, as if my internal battery ,my cellular power bank, was finally charged properly. It wasn’t about quick energy, but about deeper recovery and long-term resilience. That’s why I’m so passionate about bringing this to others with NooQ. And we’re already looking at other innovative ingredients that go far beyond what’s on the market today.
Why are today’s diets so low in nucleotides?
Dr. Köppel:
It’s mainly due to modern food processing, the move away from traditional nutrient-rich foods like liver or fermented fish, and our general shift toward refined, convenient diets. Even “clean eating” often lacks diversity in nucleotide sources. On top of that, the body’s demand for nucleotides rises under stress. Yet our intake doesn’t increase accordingly.
Dr. Köppel, which foods are naturally rich in dietary nucleotides?
Dr. Köppel:
Nucleotide-rich foods include organ meats like liver and spleen, seafood, yeast-based products, and fermented foods. One of the richest sources is actually human breast milk, which underlines how important nucleotides are for development, immunity, and regeneration. But in adult diets, especially plant-based or processed diets, nucleotide intake is often extremely low.
What are some of the proven benefits of dietary nucleotide supplementation?
Dr. Köppel:
There’s growing evidence that dietary nucleotides can:
· Boost immune response and speed up recovery
· Enhance gut health, reducing symptoms of IBS and inflammation
· Lower cortisol during physical or mental stress
· Improve ATP production for more stable energy
· Slow telomere shortening and reduce biological age markers like epigenetic aging
It’s one of the few compounds that supports performance, resilience, and longevity all at once, because it works at the cellular level.
Timm, how do you explain NooQ to someone who’s never heard of nucleotides?
Timm:
I keep it simple: “Think of it like fueling your body at the cellular level, not with sugar or caffeine, but with what your cells actually need to repair and perform.” That’s why we say “Power your cells.” It’s about helping your body work better from the inside out.
Dr. Köppel, are nucleotide supplements safe and well tolerated?
Dr. Köppel:
Absolutely. Nucleotides have been used safely for decades in infant formula, clinical nutrition, and veterinary medicine. The nucleotides we use in NooQ are purified, yeast-derived, and produced to high-grade quality standards. What makes our formulation truly unique is the nucleotide matrix , a blend of pyrimidine and purine nucleotides in a precisely engineered ratio, designed to mirror the body’s own needs under stress and recovery. It’s safe, effective, and well tolerated for daily use.
What makes NooQ’s approach different from traditional supplements?
Timm:
Traditional supplements focus on vitamins and minerals, which are great, but they don’t address cellular bottlenecks. NooQ is about giving your body the building blocks it needs to energize, repair and renew. We’re not selling hype or trends, we’re delivering science-backed formulas based on real needs.
What’s next for nucleotide research — and for NooQ?
Dr. Köppel:
We’re actively supporting research into how nucleotides impact sleep regulation, bone healing, and longevity. These are areas where cellular health is often overlooked and nucleotides have incredible potential.
Timm:
Yes and we’re also working on a new generation of formulas that combine nucleotides with other novel bioactives. Think beyond the usual wellness buzzwords, we’re building the future of nutrition, based on what the body actually needs at the cellular level.
🔬 Explore the science behind NooQ: www.nooq-nutrition.com/science
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