From the Guidelines
Urolithin A has been shown to induce mitophagy, increase longevity, and prevent age-related muscle impairment, making it a potentially beneficial compound for improving healthspan and lifespan. The benefits of Urolithin A are primarily related to its role in improving mitochondrial function and reducing inflammation, as evidenced by its ability to induce mitophagy in cell cultures and increase longevity in nematodes 1. Regular consumption of urolithin A may improve muscle strength and endurance by enhancing mitochondrial efficiency, particularly beneficial for aging individuals experiencing muscle decline.
Some of the key benefits of Urolithin A include:
- Inducing mitophagy, a process that clears damaged mitochondria and improves cellular health 1
- Increasing longevity in animal models, such as nematodes 1
- Preventing age-related muscle impairment in mouse models 1
- Improving mitochondrial and cellular health in healthy, sedentary elderly individuals 1
- Demonstrating anti-inflammatory properties that could help reduce chronic inflammation associated with various diseases
It is essential to note that while Urolithin A shows promise, the optimal dosing and supplementation strategies are not yet firmly established. However, natural sources such as pomegranates, walnuts, and berries can help promote urolithin A production, depending on individual gut bacteria profiles. Based on the current evidence, incorporating Urolithin A into one's diet or supplement routine may be a useful strategy for supporting overall health and well-being, particularly in older adults.
From the Research
Benefits of Urolithin A
The benefits of Urolithin A, a naturally occurring metabolite, include:
- Improved mitochondrial and cellular health in humans, as shown by a first-in-human clinical trial 2
- Enhanced cellular health by increasing mitophagy and mitochondrial function and reducing detrimental inflammation 3
- Potential health benefits in a broad range of diseases, including cardiovascular disease, cancer, cognitive impairment, and diabetes 4
- Prevention of sleep-deprivation-induced neuroinflammation and mitochondrial dysfunction in young and aged mice 5
- Improvement in muscle endurance and mitochondrial health in older adults, as demonstrated by a randomized clinical trial 6
Specific Health Benefits
Some specific health benefits of Urolithin A include:
- Amelioration of pancreatic diseases, such as pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer, and diabetes mellitus, by inhibiting inflammatory signaling pathways, activating autophagy, maintaining mitochondrial function, and improving the immune microenvironment 4
- Prevention of neuroinflammation and mitochondrial dysfunction in the hippocampus of mice subjected to sleep deprivation 5
- Improvement in muscle endurance in older adults, as measured by the number of muscle contractions until fatigue 6
- Decrease in plasma levels of several acylcarnitines, ceramides, and C-reactive protein, which are associated with mitochondrial and cellular health 6
Safety and Tolerability
Urolithin A has been shown to be safe and well-tolerated in humans, with no significant adverse events reported in clinical trials 2, 6