How Can Urolithin A Supplements Help Extend Your Healthy Lifespan?

Urolithin A: Boosting Mitochondrial Health for Longevity

What is Urolithin A?

Urolithin A is a naturally occurring compound created during the metabolism of certain foods. It belongs to the Urolithin group of metabolites, produced in the gut when gut bacteria interact with tannins known as Ellagitannins.

Since the 2000s, Urolithin A has undergone extensive scientific studies, focusing on its impact on mitochondrial health, muscular endurance, and its potential in reducing the impact of certain types of cancer.

 

Benefits of Urolithin A: Aiding Mitophagy, Muscular Endurance, and More

The chief benefit of Urolithin A is its ability to aid the process known as mitophagy – the breaking down and removal of old, dysfunctional mitochondria cells.

As you may remember from biology classes, mitochondria produce energy from the food we eat, thereby giving all of the rest of our body the ability to perform optimally. These mitochondria have their own mitochondrial DNA and function as independent organelles, which have recently been discovered to form complex networks with each other through the body!

As we age, our mitochondria lose their efficiency. There are many factors behind this. One of the most important is the accrual of errors in their mitochondrial DNA; meaning that all further cellular divisions from that mitochondrial will also be dysfunctional.

Our body has a system to address these problems, known as mitophagy,whereby old, tired, and dysfunctional mitochondria are broken down and removed. However, with ageing, this system becomes increasingly burdened with the growing number of malfunctioning and old mitochondria. Mitophagy also slows down with age, and it can no longer keep up the growing ‘to do list’ across all the body's cells!

As mitophagy become less effective in the ageing body, pressures on cellular health increase significantly. Age-related problems known to be the result of dysfunctioning mitochondria include cellular senescence (the accrual of so-called zombie cells), widespread chronic inflammation and decreases in stem cell production tied directly to poorly functioning mitochondria. Each of these issues further contribute to the rate at which we age.

Given these extreme pressures on the ageing human body, the ability of Urolithin A supplementation to increase mitophagy is quite exciting, and the health benefits which are being discovered through supplementing Urolithin A may make it a very promising addition to your personalised approach as a great anti-ageing supplement.

Recipients of Urolithin A supplements in a 2022 Study showed increased markers of mitochondrial health and reduced muscular fatigue over sustained periods of exercise.

Beyond this, Urolithin A’s anti-inflammatory and regenerative effects have also been observed to reduce the incidence and intensity of several types of cancer, including prostate, pancreatic and colon cancers.

What Foods Contain Urolithin A?

Urolithin A is not found by itself but is a byproduct of gut bacteria breaking down certain foods containing Ellagitannins. These foods include raspberries, walnuts, pomegranates, and even drinks like cognac and whisky. However, only about 20% of people have the right gut flora to convert ellagitannins into urolithins.

 

Furthermore, you would have to eat lots of pomegranates to produce the 500mg recommended daily dose of Urolithin A! As such, it is unreliable to depend on foods for your Urolithin A production.

Where to Find Urolithin A Supplements?

DoNotAge.org offers Urolithin A supplements available for purchase via the ‘Subscribe and Save’ option. Choose between 500mg or 1g of Urolithin A per day, with a year's supply at up to 36.8% cheaper than alternatives. As you embark on your Urolithin A journey, share your observations on the benefits as you enhance your mitophagy and clean up tired and dysfunctional mitochondria.