Urolithin A---Natural anti-aging ingredient, no side effects

 Most people lost their muscles irreversibly with age, such as slow movement, inability to exert strength, inability to grasp, etc., loss of self-care ability and even "skinny" phenomenon. The loss of muscles in the elderly is a very painful thing, and many things cannot be done. Sometimes simple exercise is a luxury, which seriously affects the quality of life of the elderly.

 New research has found that Urolithin A (Urolithin A) in pomegranate and other fruits can help slow down specific aging processes by improving the function of cell mitochondria, enhance muscle endurance in the elderly, improve muscle loss, and relieve muscle atrophy in the elderly; Moreover, Studies have shown that ingestion of this urolithin A poses no risk to human health.

The research facility recruited 66 older adults over the age of 65 and divided them into two groups, one taking a urolithin A supplement (1 gram per day) and the others taking a placebo, for 4 months.

The following indicators are mainly tested:

1. 6 minutes walking distance;

2. Muscular endurance of hand and leg muscles;

3. Mitochondrial-related biomarkers;

4. Cellular health markers;

The results showed that the muscle endurance of the group supplemented with urolithin A was 7-8 times that of the placebo group.

Tests have shown that urolithin A can prevent muscle decline, especially caused by aging.

What is urolithin A?

Urolithin A is a product of gut microbiota, also known as Urolithin A (UA), It is a gut microbial metabolite of ellagic acid and cannot be supplemented directly from food.

Other functions of urolithin A:

1. Weight loss

Urolithin A not only protects muscle, but also affects cellular lipid metabolism and adipogenesis. It reduces triglyceride accumulation and fatty acid oxidation, as well as the expression of lipogenesis-related genes (genes related to lipogenesis).

2. Activates mitophagy

The protection of urolithin A against muscle loss was only recently discovered, and previous studies on it have focused on mitochondrial aspects, especially mitophagy. (Mitophagy refers to the selective removal of damaged mitochondria through autophagosomes) Urolithin A can activate mitophagy through various pathways, such as activating enzymes that promote mitophagy, or regulating the mitophagy pathway, and promoting mitophagy autophagosome formation, etc. With age and some age-related diseases, mitophagy declines or even stagnates, slowly weakening organ function.

3. Anti-inflammatory

The anti-inflammatory effect of Urolithin A is multifaceted. First of all, it's abundant in the gut, so the most effective is inflammatory bowel disease. Including acute enteritis, ulcerative colitis, and even colon cancer.

Second, Urolithin A not only protects against intestinal inflammation, because it reduces overall serum levels of inflammatory factors. Theoretically, Urolithin A can work on diseases caused by inflammation.

4. Improves metabolic diseases

In fact, the anti-inflammatory and mitophagy activation of urolithin A is already very effective in reducing the symptoms of metabolic diseases.

But it also has a powerful effect, that is, it can improve oxidative stress, which can not only scavenge free radicals, but also inhibit oxidase enzymes, and can also enhance cellular antioxidant/source.

How to supplement urolithin A?

Urolithin A cannot be obtained directly from food, however, its precursor ellagitannin can be supplemented.

Common foods rich in ellagic acid and ellagitannins are: pomegranates, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, walnuts, pistachios, pecans, etc., as well as some teas and aged wines and spirits. Among them, blackberries and blueberries with low sugar are relatively ketogenic, and nuts are also good.

With the advancement of technology, we will know ourselves more and more. More and more literatures have found that urolithin A can fight aging, and it may be another anti-aging weapon. We can't stop ourselves from getting older, but we can improve the rate of aging, especially mitochondrial function and body health, improve mitochondria, fight muscle loss, and achieve real old age.