Urolithin A: Mitochondrial Support for Longevity, Strength & Heart Health

Urolithin A is rapidly becoming a go-to longevity nutrient, and with good reason. Backed by 15 years of research and 11 human clinical trials, it is one of the most extensively studied compounds for healthy aging.

 

Why Urolithin A Matters for Aging Cells

Clinical studies demonstrate that Urolithin A targets a key hallmark of aging—mitochondrial decline. Several well-done clinical trials have shown significant improvement in cellular energy and muscle health. Now, promising preclinical findings suggest these mitochondrial benefits may also extend to the heart and more.

Read on to explore how Urolithin A works at the cellular level and what the latest science could mean for extending healthspan.

 

What Is Urolithin A? A Gut-Derived Postbiotic

Urolithin A is a naturally occurring postbiotic produced in the gut when specific polyphenols called ellagitannins, found in foods like pomegranates and walnuts, are metabolized by certain gut microbes. However, research shows that fewer than 30 to 40 percent of people have the right gut bacteria to make Urolithin A.

And, even for the select few who can produce Urolithin A, they are likely not doing so in meaningful quantities. In fact, you would need to drink about six cups of pomegranate juice a day to reach the equivalent of the 500 milligram dose used in clinical trials.

 

The Mitochondrial Benefits of Urolithin A

At the heart of Urolithin A’s benefits is its ability to improve how our cells generate and sustain energy. It does this by activating a process called mitophagy, the natural cellular cleanup process that removes damaged mitochondria and stimulates the production of new, more efficient ones.

Key human trial outcomes:

Through its impact on the mitochondria, Urolithin A has meaningful health outcomes. Clinical trials have demonstrated:

• Significant improvement in mitophagy, cellular energy and markers of mitochondrial health
• 12% improvement in muscle strength after 12 weeks with 500 mgs (in sedentary overweight adults)
• 17% improvement in muscle endurance after 8 weeks with 1000 mgs (in sedentary older adults)
• 7% improvement in leg strength after 8 weeks with 1000 mgs (in young strength-trained athletes)

Emerging research also points to Urolithin A’s role in targeting immune aging.

In addition to its internal benefits, Urolithin A can be applied topically to support skin health. Through mitophagy activation, it helps to combat both the intrinsic and extrinsic factors that contribute to skin aging.

But what about its potential beyond muscle, immune and skin? Exciting new research suggests that Urolithin A could impact several other aspects of health, including the heart.

 

Can Mitochondrial Support Benefit the Heart?

That’s the question researchers explored in a study published in iScience earlier this year.  Because cardiac muscle is densely packed with mitochondria, it’s no surprise that mitochondrial dysfunction and impaired mitophagy are key contributors to both heart aging and disease.

Using two different preclinical models, one mimicking age-related heart changes and the other simulating chronic heart failure, they found that Urolithin A supplementation:

• Restored healthy mitochondrial structure and cristae density in aged mouse heart tissue
• Improved both systolic and diastolic function in rats with heart failure
• Reduced plasma ceramides (an emerging biomarker of cardiovascular health) in both mice and humans.

While these findings have not yet been studied in humans, they provide a compelling mechanism for how mitochondrial support might one day be used to improve cardiac health.

 

Is There a Clinically Validated Form of Urolithin A?

Mitopure® is the only highly pure, proprietary form of Urolithin A that has been clinically tested and shown to improve mitochondrial function in humans. It delivers a precise dose of bioavailable Urolithin A, bypassing the variability of gut microbiome metabolism that makes dietary conversion unreliable for most people.

What sets Mitopure apart is its commitment to scientific rigor. The scientific team at Timeline, the makers of Mitopure, has invested over a decade of research that is now published in high-impact medical journals.

Additionally, their products are 3rd-party tested by NSF and the Clean Label Project.

This is why Mitopure can be trusted by those looking for a well-studied, targeted way to support their mitochondrial health and promote healthy aging. In the crowded supplement market, it’s rare to find a compound and a company with this level of clinical validation and transparency.